"Ralston College's commitment to truth, freedom, beauty, and fellowship finds its fullest expression in the young men and women who have now, by this intellectual achievement, become our alumni. They have achieved a standard of academic excellence to which future graduates of our college will, with courage, aspire," founding President Stephen Blackwood said.
"We believe wholeheartedly in the power of the Humanities: their capacity to enrich, to inspire, and to instill the qualities that allow for meaningful human lives guided by high aims and deep purpose. Every one of our students graduates with profound insights into our shared human experience which will illuminate the wonderfully varied paths on which they now embark."
The ceremony of Ralston College’s convocation continues the long-standing traditions performed at the world’s most ancient and influential universities which first granted academic degrees in the second half of the 12th century.
To retain the essential features of these ancient predecessors, the proceeding on May 20th at St John’s Episcopal Church was conducted according to the traditional process, and in Latin, the formal language for academic progression.
Graduands wore full academic dress meant to symbolize not only the nature of their achievement, but also their attaining membership to the higher status of an alumnus, or alumna, of the College. Seated, in order of their presentation, on both sides of the church, the graduands then proceeded to join their professors by being formally admitted to their degree and assuming the hood that denotes that status.
Following the ceremony, a bagpiper led graduates and guests from Madison Square to the College’s main academic building, 26 East Gaston Street, where speeches, toasts and a musical performance by students preceded an evening celebration at nearby Collins Quarter at Forsyth Park.
