2022 Graduation Magazine

Page 84 CLASS OF 2022 LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.COM MAY / JUNE 2022 With the audience already in a fervor, Quentin Brackenridge and the students of the Lincoln College Gospel Choir, music students and jazz students delivered a knee slapping, dance- along version of “Oh Happy Day.” Everyone in the audience felt the move of the music and the joy that it represented. Around the gymnasium people stood, clapping in rhythm with Brackenridge, dancing in place and singing along. When the song was over, the exhausted crowd sat down and the conferring of degrees began. Dr. Donna Bradley offered the “Presentation of Class” and Dr. Gerlach provided the “Conferring of Degree.” Students crossed the stage, shaking hands with Trustee Board Chair Patrick Doolin while accepting their diplomas. As they exited the stage they were greeted, congratulated and often times offered a big hug by Rev. Dr. Shelton, before returning to their seats. With the confirmation of their degrees, Brackenridge was called to the stage for one last performance. He sang the college song, “Lincoln College Alma Mater.” Pastor Crawford offered the benediction followed by the recessional drawing the afternoon to a close. In all it was a joyous day for everyone in the gymnasium. Students shared their joy with decorations on their graduation caps. Parents and family members held up cardboard prints of their graduate faces, cell phones all over the building glowed as the event was recorded for personal history, and the cheers and laughter that filled the room from time to time was an indication, that this class was filled with happy young people, ready to go out and face the next chapter of their lives head on, thanks to the efforts of all those at Lincoln College. Congratulations to the last and the 155th graduating class of Lincoln College. [Nila Smith]