When Macee Carpenter received her high school diploma, she estimated she was one of about 30 graduates at nearby Notus High School.
On Saturday, Carpenter’s name was listed with just under 300 others as The College of Idaho celebrated its 2023 Commencement ceremonies. As she walked across the steps of Boone Science Hall to receive her diploma from co-presidents Jim Everett and Doug Brigham, she made sure to enjoy the moment.
“I took a second to really be proud of myself,” said Carpenter, who double-majored in business administration and political economy. “I don’t do that very much and it was incredible to finally make it to the end.”
The pride was evident throughout the event as the boisterous crowd celebrated each of the College’s graduates. The students celebrated themselves but also others – Carpenter shared a moment with Natalie Davison, the director of the College’s wellness center, who Carpenter calls “the glue of the campus” – throughout the day.
For Camille Massaad, the College’s small, close-knit family made those celebration moments easier to share. Massaad was honored during the ceremony with a Dean’s Award, but something else brought the biggest smile to his face once Commencement had ended.
“I think one of my favorite parts was hearing our provost, Dr. David Douglass, announce (fellow senior) Bailey Cunningham as ‘Captain Bailey Cunningham,’” laughed Massaad, a biomedical sciences and business administration double-major. “Part of our small community, we’re able to do those things and everyone picked up on it.”
Massaad said moments like that don’t happen at larger institutions because students wouldn’t know that Cunningham was nicknamed “Captain” by his roommate during his freshman year, Peter Micah. The nickname stuck.
“I guess so, I’m the captain of nothing,” joked Cunningham, a biology major. “We’ll get a badge commissioned and made.”
Cunningham, for his part, said he will not soon forget the senior speech from Dler Khalaf Awsman, detailing his journey from a small village in Iraq to the United World College in Italy before coming to The College of Idaho. Awsman, who said he didn’t speak any Italian or English when he arrived at UWC, spoke a greeting in his native Kurdish language for his family watching a livestream of the ceremony in Iraq.
Following Awsman’s speech, Massaad and Patrick Mark each received the Dean’s Award while Jahona Akbarova and Lily Archuleta were recognized as Alumni Distinguished Senior Award winners. Cherie Buckner-Webb was recognized for her years of community involvement and service with the Presidential Medallion Award and Mary Vanek Smith received an honorary degree from the College for her service and generous contribution of time and resources to the campus community.
Once the diplomas were handed out, it was time to look to the future while appreciating the past.
“I think I’ll miss the fact that my job here was to learn,” Carpenter explained. “And, although I plan to and will be a life-long learner, there’s something so special about having the privilege to be at such a wonderful institution.”
Massaad agreed.
“Today feels long, which is good. It means it is slow and hasn’t been rushed,” he explained. “It’s the beautiful thing about this campus, that we take things slow and live in the moment and it has been really rewarding.”
The good feelings were shared by all.
“Everyone had the biggest smiles on their faces,” Cunningham added. “This is what you hope it’s like. It is the most positive atmosphere you’ll ever see.”
To view downloadable images of each person in the Commencement ceremony, click here.
The College of Idaho has a 132-year-old legacy of excellence. The College is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition, and history of producing successful graduates, including eight Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.