A baccalaureate service is a customary event held in conjunction with graduation ceremonies. High school graduations may also include a baccalaureate service. Such events usually commemorate the completion of higher education, such as a college or university program; however, high school graduations may also include a baccalaureate service. The service usually consists of a series of speeches delivered to the graduating class, often by key students, faculty, or other influential figures. Its roots can be traced back to religious services in the 1400s, though modern events can be more secular.
Typical Procedures
A series of speeches are delivered to the graduating class during baccalaureate services. These speeches are frequently given by important students and faculty members, such as the class valedictorian, the superintendent of a school district in the case of a public school, or a university regent or fellow. Other prominent and influential members of the community may also be asked to speak. Other activities, such as musical performances, can be used to break up speeches.
Guests’ Characteristics
When a graduating class is awarded a specialized degree, public figures who are well-known in fields related to the field of study may be asked to give speeches. A distinguished court justice, for example, is frequently invited to speak at the baccalaureate service for a graduating class of law students. Local community or religious leaders, as well as alumni who have gone on to great success, are frequently invited to speak at these events.
Preparation for the Event
The evening before the graduation ceremony, a baccalaureate service is usually held. The baccalaureate service may be held on the same day as or right before the graduation ceremony in some cases. When the service takes place right before the graduation ceremony, organizers usually keep it to a set length of time to avoid an overly long event. The meetings are usually held in a hall or auditorium on the school’s campus, but they can also be held elsewhere.
The Background of These Services
Although the baccalaureate service did not originate in the United States, it is a traditional part of American graduation ceremonies. When the graduating bachelors of 1432 were asked to give religious sermons in Latin, the service became a tradition at Oxford University in England. As baccalaureate services became more common in American universities, this tradition of oration remained central. However, over time, the original focus on religion that characterized these speeches has waned or expanded to include interfaith issues.
The Name’s Origin
The etymology of the term “baccalaureate service” can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Bacca is said to be derived from the word “bachelor,” while lauri is said to be derived from the word “oration.” Another meaning of the term “baccalaureate” refers to the custom of awarding laurel plants to those who have earned a bachelor’s degree. The name is said to come from the words bacca, which means “berry,” and laureates, which means “crowned with branches of bay laurel leaves.” In either case, there is a link between giving speeches, receiving honors, and earning bachelor’s degrees, and both interpretations may be correct.