Skip to main content

Commencement 2018 by the Numbers

Will Evans Jr in amphitheater

Among staff from all across campus who make commencement special is Will Evans, Jr., of grounds & horticulture, who has helped to prep the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater, where the ceremony will take place, for nearly 30 years.

 

Commencement weekend is here — the culmination of four years of learning and exploration for seniors, endless hours of instruction and collaboration from faculty, and every bit of a full year of planning and execution by staff from all areas of campus. It's a celebration for and by the entire College community. But before final touches are made and the regalia is adorned, let's examine Swarthmore's commencement — its 146th — by the numbers.

 

418: Seniors graduating

418: Number of roses given to seniors by the Scott Arboretum, in keeping with tradition

89:  Students receiving Honors

351Honors exams taken, on 132 subjects across 28 disciplines

62:  Students who were first in family to attend college

84:  Students with the most popular major, economics

134:  Students with double majors

59:  Students with special majors, including medical anthropology and fantasy writing

222:  Students with a minor

54: International students from 23 countries, as well as 30 U.S. citizens who have dual citizenship in 11 additional countries

40:  States represented by students, including Washington, D.C.

37:  Students with one or more parent who is an alum 

12:  Students with one or more grandparent or great-grandparent who is an alum

3:  Honorary degree recipients

2:  Winners of the American Parliamentary Debate Team of the Year

14:  National award winners, including seven Fulbright grantees, a Watson Fellow, a National Science Foundation Fellow, two Boren Scholars (here and here), two Newman Civic Fellows (here and here), and a Humanity in Action Fellow.

207:  Donors to the Senior Class Gift

11:  Athletes in the graduating class to reach the Elite Eight in their respective sport this past year (men’s basketball, volleyball, baseball)

310:  Procession steps between the entrances of Dean Bond Rose Garden and Scott Amphitheater

1,672:  Tickets issued

3,400:  Programs printed

3,620:  Chairs ordered, 2,225 of which are set up in the amphitheater

100:  Tables ordered 

3,500:  Cookies prepared for commencement events, including the post-ceremony reception on Parrish Beach

3:  Languages in which Commencement is broadcast  (English, Spanish, and Mandarin)

588:  Unique views of the ceremony's livestream, across 27 countries and five continents

4,718:  Likes to the College’s commencement posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

 

Note: Student data was compiled by the Registrar's Office and is preliminary as of Friday morning.

Submissions Welcome

The Communications Office invites all members of the Swarthmore community to share videos, photos, and story ideas for the College's website. Have you seen an alum in the news? Please let us know by writing news@swarthmore.edu.