A visitor hides from the raindrops Saturday afternoon near a tent set up for Sunday's Davidson College graduation. (David Boraks photo)
NOTE: College officials decided early Sunday to hold the graduation indoors. See related story.
Amid a day of alternating downpours and sunshine, Davidson College officials are watching the forecast as they try to make a call about where to hold Sunday morning’s 2009 commencement. At 3 p.m., officials were hoping for the best, but preparing for a ceremony inside Baker Sports Complex. At 9 p.m., they had decided to hold off on a decision until before sunrise. The in-and-out rain has already forced cancellation of at least one major weekend event in the area, while others will go on rain-or-shine.Cornelius Parks & Recreation has canceled the “Beach Bash in the Park” that had been scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday night at Bailey Road Park. Officials there plan to announce a new date for the event later.
Meanwhile, Slow Food Carolina Piedmont Region is moving forward rain or shine with its “Ark of Taste” local food feast at 6 p.m. at Beaver Dam Park, on Davidson-Concord Road.
GRADUATION INDOORS?
Workers set up chairs outside Davidson College Presbyterian Church for Saturday night's baccalaureate service. (David Boraks photo)
Davidson College officials are closely consulting a forecaster in Pennsylvania this afternoon as they try to decide whether to move the graduation indoors. The ceremony is traditionally held outdoors on the lawn in front of Chambers Hall if weather is good. In recent memory, it has rarely had to move indoors.
The forecaster “is saying there’s a 70 percent chance of rain before 8 a.m. and a 30 percent chance after that,” said college spokesman Bill Giduz.
At this point, he said, “College officials suspect it will be indoors. But they’re waiting until the last possible moment to decide,” Mr. Giduz said.
Announcement of any change will be made on the college website, www.davidson.edu.
The graduation ceremony begins at 9:50 a.m. College President Tom Ross is the commencement speaker. The event also includes presentations of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards to a student and a community member, the Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award to two faculty members, First Honor and Second Honor to the two graduates with the highest grade point average, and the Class Gift by Senior Class President Richmond Blake.
LINKS
Details about this year’s graduation and graduating class, in a feature on the Davidson Website.
