The Baccalaureate Service 2018
Saturday, March, 10th, 2018 Past Programs 2017-2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018, 3-4 pm, Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center
The President and Chaplains of Tufts University invite members of the Class of 2018 and their families and friends to join in celebrating the Baccalaureate Service on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center. All are welcome.
About the Baccalaureate Service
The Baccalaureate Service for the senior class at Tufts is a tradition that began in 1864.
Baccalaureate is a cherished moment during Commencement Weekend, and the last time for the senior class to be alone together as a class. One senior is selected to give the class speech, called the Wendell Phillips Address, and the president offers his parting words to the class.
The context is a multifaith and multicultural celebration honoring a diversity of spiritualities, philosophies, and cultures at Tufts in the form of music, readings, and benedictions. All are welcome, and generally all members of the senior class and their families attend.
2018 Senior Baccalaureate Speaker
The Senior Baccalaureate Speaker is the recipient of the Wendell Phillips Award, which was established in 1896 to honor Boston’s great orator and advocate for abolition and women’s and Native People’s rights, Wendell Phillips. The award is given annually to a senior who demonstrates both marked ability as a speaker and a high sense of public responsibility. Selected by the Committee on Student Life, the winner is the one graduating senior invited to offer a speech as part of Commencement, and the speech takes place during the Baccalaureate Service. It is intended to deliver a social justice message for our time. The Wendell Phillips Speaker for the Class of 2018 will be selected in March 2018.
The Wendell Phillips Speaker for the Class of 2018 is Anna Del Castillo
Anna Del Castillo A18 is a Peruvian-Bolivian-American student from the warm state of Mississippi. She enjoys southern food, live music, and spontaneous adventures with friends. Anna is an International Relations major with a minor in Colonialism studies. She is a member of the Sigma Iota Rho International Relations Honor Society, an Institute for Global Leadership Synaptic Scholar, and a BLAST Scholar. During her time at Tufts, she served as a class senator for four years and during her senior year served as the Tufts Community Union Vice President. She organized for the Tufts Indigenous Peoples Day movement and served as a Career Fellow and Interfaith Student Council member. Anna led the Tufts Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere team and represented Tufts as a Boston Interfaith Leadership Initiative Fellow. Anna will attend Harvard Divinity School in the Fall to pursue a Masters in Theological Studies as a Dean’s Fellow where she will continue to cultivate herself and explore the intersection of spirituality and social justice.
Spiritual Gatherings During Commencement Weekend 2018
Other spiritual gatherings during Commencement Weekend include:
Friday, May 18, 2018
- 1 pm, Muslim Friday Prayer and Lunch, Interfaith Center (58 Winthrop St.)
Friday prayer starts at 1:15 followed by a halal buffet lunch with vegetarian options. Open to all students and families of any or no religious background. RSVP appreciated for planning purposes but not required. To RSVP, contact the Muslim Chaplain at Celene.Ibrahim@tufts.edu. - 5 pm, Pre-Shabbat Reception at the Granoff Family Hillel Center with hors d’oeuvres to honor seniors and their families.
For more information, call (617) 627-3242. - 6 pm, Reform and Egalitarian Conservative services begin at 6:00 p.m., Granoff Family Hillel Center
Services will be followed by dinner around 7:15 p.m. For more information, call (617) 627-3242. Thanks to the generosity of the Tufts University administration, there is no charge to attend any meals or programming this weekend. However, for planning purposes, registration is REQUIRED. - 7:15 pm, Shabbat Dinner, Granoff Family Hillel Center
Thanks to the generosity of the Tufts University administration, there is no charge to attend any meals or programming this weekend. However, for planning purposes, registration is required. - 8:00 pm Humanist New Beginnings Reflection, Interfaith Center (58 Winthrop St.)
The Senior Week Reflection is open to all members of the Tufts community, but especially our graduating seniors and their families, irrespective of anyone’s belief background. We’ll have a reception with many refreshments and music following.
Saturday, May 19, 2018
- 10 am, Shabbat Morning Service (Conservative), Granoff Family Hillel Center
Service will be followed by Kiddush lunch. For more information, call (617) 627-3242. - 10 am, Guided Meditation and Tea led by Buddhist in Residence, Goddard Chapel
Join Priya Sraman, Buddhist in Residence and advisor to the Tufts Mindfulness Buddhist Sangha, for guided meditation, followed by conversation, tea, and light snacks. - 12 pm, Kiddush Lunch, Granoff Family Hillel Center
- 12:15 pm, Protestant Luncheon for Graduates and Families, Interfaith Center (58 Winthrop St.)
To celebrate our graduating seniors and a fantastic year of Protestant life at Tufts. It will be an informal reception, over in plenty of time for Baccalaureate, so feel free to drop by as able anytime before 1:30. Please RSVP as soon as possible to Daniel.Bell@tufts.edu if you plan to come. - 5:30 pm Catholic Mass for Graduates, Alumni, and Families, Goddard Chapel
Please join us for liturgy as we send forth our graduates and welcome home alumni and families. Each year we eagerly look forward to sharing our beautiful, story-rich chapel with new friends and with all who have worshipped here over the years. All are welcome and, as always, come as you are. Followed by a reception with light refreshments. For more information, please contact Catholic Chaplain Lynn Cooper at Lynn.Cooper@tufts.edu. - 7:30 pm, Saturday Iftar followed by Evening Prayers, Interfaith Center (58 Winthrop St.)
Ramadan Iftar followed by Taraweeh All are welcome. RSVP appreciated but not required. celene.ibrahim@tufts.edu Interfaith Center (58 Winthrop St.) - 8 pm, Tikkun Leil Shavuot with Dinner, Granoff Hillel Center
Join us for blintzes, cheesecake, and a story slam hosted by Rabbi Jordan Braunig. Thanks to the generosity of the Tufts University administration, there is no charge to attend any meals or programming this weekend. However, for planning purposes, registration is required.
Sunday, May 20, 2018
- 7 am, Shavuot Morning Services, Granoff Hillel Center
Join us for Shavuot morning services, with coffee and pastries to follow. Thanks to the generosity of the Tufts University administration, there is no charge to attend any meals or programming this weekend. However, for planning purposes, registration is required.
Monday, May 21, 2018
- 10 am, Shavuot Morning Services and Lunch, Granoff Hillel Center
Join us for Shavuot morning services, with kiddush lunch to follow.
Thanks to the generosity of the Tufts University administration, there is no charge to attend any meals or programming this weekend. However, for planning purposes, registration is required.
For families observing Ramadan during Commencement and Alumni Weekend 2018, please click here.
For families observing Shavuot during Commencement and Alumni Weekend 2018, please click here.