HWS News
11 May 2023 HWS Celebrates Baccalaureate
Graduates and families are invited to attend the Baccalaureate ceremony, an interfaith celebration held in St. John’s Chapel.
During Commencement Weekend activities, the Baccalaureate ceremony is an opportunity for graduates and families to take a meaningful pause to reflect and celebrate a significant milestone.
The interfaith ceremony will be held in St. John’s Chapel on Saturday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m.
This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Father Thomas P. Mull, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish. Other speakers during the ceremony will include Director of the Abbe Center for Jewish Life and Hillel Adviser Rabbi Dr. Ann Landowne, Dean of Spiritual Engagement and Chaplain Rev. Nita C. Johnson Byrd.
William Koepp ’23, Julia Cilano ’23, Fatou Diokhane ’23, Lucas Amaral ’23 and Mackenzie Steiner ’23 will share text from scripture and literature that resonates with them.
Born and raised in Waterloo, N.Y., Mull graduated from DeSales High School in Geneva, attended college at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, earned his M.A. from the University of Notre Dame and attended seminary at St. Bernard’s Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained in service to the Diocese of Rochester on March 19, 1976. Currently, Mull serves as Pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Geneva and assists the Chaplain in her pastoral work at Hobart and William Smith.
Additional remarks and readings will be delivered by Hobart Dean Scott L. Brophy ’78, P’12, William Smith Assistant Dean Lisa Salter, Provost and Dean of Faculty Sarah Kirk and President Mark D. Gearan.
Music will be performed by the the Colleges Chorale, who will perform a selection directed by Professor of Music Robert Cowles. The Midlakes Brass Qintent will also be featured.
