Laying of the Wreath

The Statue of Joseph Baldwin was unveiled and dedicated in honor of our founder’s 100th birthday in October 1927.  In May 1928, at the first commencement following the dedication, the graduating class and faculty paused in their procession so that Class President Lorna Wattenbarger could lay a wreath at the foot of the statue in recognition of Baldwin’s educational ideals and standards. 

This small but very significant tradition continues to be a part of all Spring and Summer Commencements with the class President or, as in recent years, valedictorian[s] doing the wreath-placing honors.  The University’s 14th president, Barbara Dixon, included the ceremony in her November 2003 installation when the academic procession circled the Quad and stopped while she and representatives of the various campus constituencies placed a wreath at the statue’s base.