Midyear graduates say ‘yes’ to life’s great adventure

On Wednesday, Dec. 10, Gettysburg College honored 32 graduating seniors during the Midyear Graduates Recognition Ceremony, held inside Schmucker Hall’s newly renovated Paul Recital Hall. With more than 150 family members, friends, faculty, and staff in attendance, the event served as a joyful reflection on the graduates’ accomplishments and a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of a Gettysburg education.

The ceremony kicked off with President Bob Iuliano’s opening address to the midyear graduates. He praised the graduates for their persistence and achievement, noting the many individual pathways that brought them to this milestone.

“We are here this evening to celebrate a remarkable group of seniors and all that they have achieved as members of this community,” Iuliano said. “Graduates, you have earned this day. We are so proud of you.”

In his remarks, Iuliano reflected on a personal story that underscored the importance of connection and follow-through—themes he tied to the graduates’ Gettysburg journeys. After sharing the lighthearted tale of waking at 3 a.m. to preserve a nearly 700-day crossword puzzle streak with his wife, Susan, he offered a broader lesson: “It wasn’t about solving puzzles. It was about a commitment, one Susan and I made to each other. It was about being present—even when schedules are full and energy is low.”

From that story, he highlighted three guiding principles. First, he urged students to show up consistently in the relationships and responsibilities that matter most. Second, he reminded graduates that clarity and direction rarely come all at once, but rather from pressing forward amid uncertainty. Finally, Iuliano spoke about the importance of cherishing “life’s micro-moments”—the quiet, fleeting experiences that culminate in a life well lived.

Provost Jamila Bookwala followed with remarks emphasizing the academic rigor, intellectual preparation, and personal development each graduate gained through their Gettysburg experience. She celebrated not only their hard work but also the support systems that helped them succeed.

“When you graduate from Gettysburg College, you are prepared for the challenges that await you,” Bookwala said. “Through our rigorous liberal arts and sciences curriculum, through your educational experiences on and off campus, and as a Gettysburg graduate, you are ready.”

She reminded students that their time at Gettysburg—inside classrooms, across campus offices, in residential communities, and beyond—will continue to shape their lives long after Commencement. "Your Gettysburg experience will always be with you, wherever you go in the world. It will continue to shape and influence everything you do.”

“Release yourself from the burden of comparing yourself to others—all that you are is enough.”
– Prof. Chris Kauffman ’92

Adams Endowed Professor of Theatre Arts Chris Kauffman ’92 delivered a deeply personal and reflective faculty address, drawing on his own journey as a Gettysburg student more than 30 years ago. He highlighted the College’s timeless sense of place—its beauty, its history, and its capacity to feel like home.

Kauffman spoke to the emotional complexity of transition, quoting Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” to affirm the graduates’ capacity to hold contradictory feelings during a time of change. “You are large. You contain multitudes,” he told them.

Kauffman encouraged the seniors to tune into their internal compass that will guide them forward. “Give yourself time to seek for that ‘yes’ within, no matter the size, and allow it to expand and grow by paying it mind,” he said, sharing a story about a Yoko Ono art exhibit that inspired him early in his artistic life and led him to pursue theatre and, later, a career in higher education.

In closing, Kauffman delivered a message of affirmation and grounding that resonated strongly across the hall: “Release yourself from the burden of comparing yourself to others—all that you are is enough. And remember that when you feel the pull to visit the place where you grew up, you are always welcome home!”

Following the recognition of each graduate by Vice President for College Life Anne Ehrlich—highlighting their majors, hometowns, and the distinctive experiences that influenced their time at Gettysburg—the ceremony concluded with President Iuliano’s final charge.

“Say ‘yes’ to life’s great adventure,” he told the graduates. “Show up with the knowledge and the confidence that you, indeed, are large. You contain multitudes.”

The evening ended with celebration and a reception filled with proud families, joyful graduates, and a community united in accomplishment and anticipation for all that lies ahead.

All midyear graduates are invited to participate in Commencement Weekend for the Class of 2026, which will take place May 15-16, 2026.

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