Behind the Scenes at Commencement
A look at some of the hundreds of staff who pulled off the big day
Welcoming the spring season with flowering annuals: FM&P employees Joseph Turowski (left) and Michael Burns in front of the College of Communication. Photo by Pankaj Khadka (COM’16)
Scott Harrington, one of the Barnes and Noble at BU employees responsible for making the platform party and marshals’ Commencement gowns presentable. Photo by Cydney Scott
So no one gets lost, many signs need to be posted: Giuseppe Areniello (left) and Omar Buruca of FM&P contribute to the effort. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi
Food service workers Kim Tran (left) and Carmen Villar, tasked with making egg salad sandwiches in the GSU for the many Convocations and receptions around campus. Photo by Cydney Scott
Baker Sal Montesinos with some of the 5,000 cupcakes served over the long Commencement weekend. Photo by Cydney Scott
Denise Ward (CFA’16) rehearsing with the BU Band for her star turn at the all-University Commencement, where she sang The Star Spangled Banner and Clarissima. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi
David Oluwadara (ENG’17) and the track team had to navigate around the preparations for the SAR, CFA, and ENG Convocations at the Track and Tennis Center. Photo by Cydney Scott
Chairs, chairs, and more chairs for the main Commencement on Nickerson Field. Photo by Cydney Scott
Removing the ropes used to corral graduates as they filed onto Nickerson Field for Commencement. Photo by Cydney Scott
Removal of extra chairs on Nickerson behind the the graduates’ seating area at the start of Commencement. Photo by Cydney Scott
In the slideshow above, view photos of some of the hundreds of BU employees who worked behind the scenes to bring off BU’s 143rd Commencement and the events leading up to it.
It takes hundreds of Boston University employees to ensure a seamless and successful Commencement week each year. Staff at Facilities Management & Planning (FM&P) are tasked with beautifying the campus with more than 150,000 annuals, setting up and breaking down risers, platforms, and the 40,000 chairs needed to get through the four-day weekend, and much more. Employees from Barnes & Noble at BU coordinate the distribution of 6,000 caps and gowns to faculty and graduates, as well as steam the robes of all the dignitaries on the platform at the Nickerson Field main ceremony. Dining Services employees log more than 18,000 man-hours over the four days to feed thousands of guests; BUPD officers are on hand to redirect traffic and provide security details; Parking & Transportation Services staff ferry graduates and their families from one part of campus to another for the 50 Convocations and scores of receptions and ceremonies. Finally, overseeing it all is the redoubtable team from Events & Conferences, charged with the almost yearlong process of making it all happen.
We’ve put together a slideshow showing just a few of the unsung heroes who helped make Boston University’s 143rd Commencement memorable.
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