On June 2, the underclassmen on campus will return home, leaving the class of 2005 to reminisce about years past and anticipate their futures. That afternoon, Seniors will gather at a community picnic to exchange yearbooks with friends and faculty. Friday will be Senior Day, when Seniors can just relax and play Frisbee or Meatstik. At 8:00 p.m. in Cochran Chapel, Seniors and faculty will gather for Convocation, where there will be a 45-minute review of their four years at Andover. After a slide show, Seniors and faculty will process from the Chapel to Commons for a semi-formal banquet. Seniors will have the opportunity to “escort” to dinner a member of the faculty who has made an impact on their lives. The next day, parents traveling from far distances will arrive on campus and there will be a full rehearsal of the commencement ceremony. Immediately following, there will be an informal buffet dinner for Seniors, family members, and guests. At 8:00 in the Cage Memorial Gym, Seniors will be providing entertainment for students and faculty, with Dean of Community and Multicultural Development Bobby Edwards serving as the emcee. This year’s theme will be Andover Idol, and it will include full audio and video equipment. At 9:45 p.m. in Cochran Chapel, the traditional Baccalaureate Service will be held for students. One student, one parent, and one faculty member will each give speeches. Then, the lights will dim, and every Senior will light a candle. On Sunday, over 4,000 people from all areas of the world are expected to attend Andover’s graduation activities. At 10:00 a.m., Andover’s 227th graduating class will assemble in front of Commons at the flag pole. Following the Clan MacPherson bagpipes, they will march towards Salem Street. Led by members of the Cum Laude society, they will make a right turn and walk down Main Street. Turning right at the entrance of the Great Lawn, they will continue to march until reaching the steps of Samuel Phillips Hall. After being seated, outgoing Student Body President Daniel Adler ’05 will speak to the assembled crowd, followed by Head of School Barbara Landis Chase. After the speeches, four prizes will be awarded to members of the Senior class. This will be followed by a benediction on the steps of Sam Phil. Led once again by the Clan MacPherson bagpipes, the class of 2005 will make their way to the Great Lawn in front of the Addison Gallery of American Art, where they will form a circle. Mrs. Chase will then at random read off the names of Seniors. After Mrs. Chase reads the name, Registrar Herbert Morton will hand the diploma to President of the Board of Trustees Oscar Tang ’56, who will then pass it to a student. The diploma will travel around the circle until it reaches the person to whom it belongs. After the conclusion of this ceremony, there will be a picnic lunch outside the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library. In case of severely bad weather, commencement activities will be held indoors in the Cage.
