Seniors gather to celebrate their enrollment into graduate programs at their soon-to-be alma mater.
It was a night to honor the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
On Thursday, April 18, Fairfield University’s Graduate Admissions and Office of the Provost hosted a cocktail reception in Alumni House celebrating a very special group of seniors. These students, who will walk across the Commencement stage on May 19 to receive their undergraduate degrees, have made the important decision to continue their education at Fairfield to pursue graduate degrees.
About 60 students, along with faculty representatives from each of the academic schools and admission support staff, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and conversation in the relaxed and celebratory atmosphere. Melanie Rogers, director of the Office of Graduate Admission, opened the evening with a brief welcome and then introduced Vice Provost Walter Rankin, PhD.
“The decision to earn a master’s degree builds a strong foundation for your future success,” said Rogers. Fairfield’s graduate population is composed of a solid population of alumni who value the reputation of the programs and mission of the Jesuit institution.
Liana Giacobbe ’24, who will continue her studies in Marketing Analytics and Strategy, said that her decision to continue at Fairfield was strategic. “I want to have a leg up on the competition when I start my job search in Marketing, so the more I arm myself with information, the better.”
For other students, the decision to remain at Fairfield for a fifth year is one of practicality. Ashley McKenna ’24 explained that Fairfield’s 5-year accelerated program in accounting makes budgetary sense. The accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s program allowed her to take two graduate-level courses during her undergraduate studies and will lead to earning her MSA in less time and at less cost than when acquired separately.
Dr. Rankin toasted the students’ success with an Irish poem rooted in Jesuit mission. “May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door.” The sentiment tied in nicely with Fairfield’s Jesuit mission to help its students find their true calling and vocation in the world.
For now, these students look to the possibilities laid out before them, confident that their Fairfield education is helping them feed their passion, explore their purpose, and reach their potential.
Once A Stag, Always A Stag!
