Commencement Address 2018
President William C. Dudley addressed the Class of 2018 at the commencement exercises on the Front Lawn.
Commencement 2018May 23 & 24, 10:00 AM, Front Lawn
Watch the Broadcast
Headlines
Washington and Lee Graduates 441 Students at 231st Commencement
In his Commencement address, president Will Dudley encouraged the Class of 2018 to take the habits they have learned at W&L "and change the world, one small encounter at a time.”
Washington and Lee University to Celebrate 231st Commencement, Baccalaureate
W&L celebrates its 231st undergraduate commencement Thursday, May 25. LIVESTREAM: 10 a.m.
W&L to Award Two Honorary Degrees at 2018 Commencement
W&L will recognize the outstanding contributions of professors Marjorie Agosín and Harlan Beckley at its 231st commencement.
Scene on Campus
In Case You Missed It
The Class of 2018 Reminisces ...
Four Short Years Ago ...
Post Graduate Awards
Shely Awarded Fulbright Grant to Colombia
Jared Shely '18 will use the grant to continue his work teaching English to students in Latin America.
Loughery ’18 Awarded ORISE Research Fellowship
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) research fellowship will allow her to conduct research at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Chemical Defense.
Prepared for the Game of Life
With the support of teammates, professors and friends, Nicholas George '18 was able to balance two majors and a spot on the basketball team.
Kiki Spiezio ’18 Awarded Clinton Scholarship
The William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship will allow Spiezio to attend the American University in Dubai during Winter Term 2018.
‘A Good Place to Grow’
From Lexington to London, Faith E. Pinho '18 has had a vast array of experiences.
Falchuk ’18 Awarded Fulbright to Teach in Slovak Republic
Hannah Falchuk '18 hopes to improve her cultural understanding and language proficiency in the country.
My Taste of W&L
Emily Perszyk ’18 reflects on what W&L has to offer in the classroom and on the court — and how it led to her interest in the study of taste, smell and flavor.
Bryant Awarded Fulbright Grant to Germany
Carson Bryant '18 has been awarded a Fulbright grant for an English Teaching Assistantship in Germany.
Class of '18 Stories
Falling for Filmmaking
Working for the documentary filmmaking company Ark Media allowed Claire Hoffert '18 to exercise her research muscles and learn new skills.
Thriving at Home and Abroad: Karishma Patel ’18
Karishma Patel '18 loves finding the intersections of technology and business - while studying abroad in Madrid.
‘The Perspective of a Real Journalist’
Matt Kaminer '18 stepped outside his comfort zone to work on some big stories during an internship with the Charlotte Observer.
Heat, Water, Lasers, Patience
Angel Vela de la Garza Evia ‘18 learned that research is two parts patience, two parts fun with lasers
Researching Beyond the Library
The best place to research your thesis? Some would say the library, but for Jacqueline Moruzzi '18 that place is the Cambridge University's Medieval Studies Summer Program.
Meet the Johnsons: Andy Cuthbert ’18
Meet Andy Cuthbert '18, a pre-med neuroscience major with a serious love of the outdoors.
A Johnson Scholar’s Next Steps
Courtney Hauck '18 looks forward to continuing her debt-free education with a fellowship to Columbia Law School.
Funding Hope in Memphis
Vicky Kazmierczak '18 spent the summer in Memphis, learning the ins and outs of non-profit work — and how to hope.
‘The Quality of the People’
Swimmer, computer coder, and Speaking Tradition advocate Will McMurtry '18 chose W&L over nine other schools, in large part because of its community.
‘My Time in Thailand’
Shadowing surgeons in Thailand made neuroscience major Emily Ellis '18 even more excited about her chosen career path.
Boss of Her World
Harleigh Bean ’18 studied in Paris, spent a summer at one of Middlebury's competitive language schools and attended the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University.
Science, Society and the Arts Presents: Dana Gary ‘18
Dana Gary, whose first EP is recorded, produced and publicized by a student-run record label, will present songs at SSA.
Graduate Statistics
447new alumni
Total Graduates
On May 24, 2018, 441 members of the Class of 2018 will recieve their degrees. Six members of the class graduated after Fall Term.
3.528avg. GPA
A New Record GPA
Members of the Class of 2018 will graduate with an average cumulative GPA of 3.528, far surpassing the previous record of 3.444, set in 2015.
Valedictorian
Mallory Stephenson of Fincastle, VA, graduates with a 4.00 grade point average.
Move-in Day, Sep. 7, 2014
240B.A.230B.S.
Degrees Earned
22 members of the Class of 2018 will receive both a B.A. and a B.S. degree, equaling the record set in 2015.
38majors34%double-major
Major Course Work
Degrees awarded to the Class of 2018 represent 38 majors from across campus, with 34 percent of graduates completing two majors.
Two graduates completed three majors!
26citizenships
A Global Class
Graduates of the Class of 2018 represent 18 countries around the world, with five from the U.K. and three from Argentina.
34states
From Across the U.S.
Graduates of the Class of 2018 represent 34 states, with VA, MD, NJ, NC, TX, CA, NY and PA claiming the most graduates.
Scholar-Athletes
36 percent of the graduating class participated on a varsity team.
