Even though the 2004 class and college marshals have been preparing for commencement since the fall, after learning of their selection, their identities have remained publicly unannounced.

The 24 marshals will be formally introduced to seniors, graduate students and the parents of undergraduates through the 2004 commencement brochure which will be mailed out by the end of February, said Mary Jane Nathan, executive director of special events.

‘It’s an honor to be chosen,’ Nathan said. ‘We’re always impressed with our marshals.’

In addition to the two class marshals, Matthew Ward, a senior majoring in interior design, and Sarah Young a senior social work major, each college selected two marshals, except for The College of Arts and Sciences, which selected three. The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs selected one student.

But selection as a marshal is even more significant because of the application and interview process each applicant must go through.

The selection of the two class marshals begins when five members of the selection committee receive a copy of every application to rate, said Lena Rose Orlando, associate director for student affairs. Each application is assigned a number after the cover sheets are removed so that the committee members do not know whose application they are grading.

Each section of the application, such as academic awards or community service, earns a certain number of points. Each section can earn a maximum number of ten points.

The committee members total the number of points on each application, and the students who receive the highest number of points proceed to the interviewing stage of the class marshal selection process. The selected number has ranged from about six to 12 students in the past, Orlando said.

The committee, composed of faculty, staff and students, selected this year’s marshals from a pool of 61 applicants in the spring of 2003, Orlando added. The names are being sent to students and their families for the first time this month.

Once students reach the interviewing stage, their score and information from their applications are cleared, giving them a clean slate, Orlando said.

‘When you come in for the interview, it’s all about how you do during that interview,’ Orlando said. ‘We know what we’re looking for.’

The committee always selects a female and male student to be the class marshals, as well as one alternate in case one marshal cannot accept the position, Orlando said.

Each college undergoes its own application and selection process when choosing its marshals, Orlando said.

‘Ideally, a marshal should be a symbol of the college’s leadership, academic excellence and service,’ said Richard Ugino the College of Visual and Performing Arts marshal and senior musical theater major. ‘It’s challenging to try to set yourself apart from all the other applicants.’

The senior class marshals lead their peers onto the Carrier Dome floor at the start of commencement, Orlando said. During commencement, they sit on the stage with the college deans and top administrators, and they also place the flags from each college of the university in their specific locations on the stage, Orlando said.

But the marshals have other responsibilities as well.

‘They’re also at the beck and call of (the Special Events) office and the Chancellor’s office,’ Orlando said. ‘In some sort of controversy, they might be asked any number of things. They’re earmarked as being representatives of the senior class.’

The 2004 class and college marshals worked to select the 2004 commencement speaker, Phylicia Rashad, after meeting several times during the fall 2003 semester.

‘It was kind of a three ring circus to get us all together,’ Ugino said.

The marshals considered hundreds of names before narrowing down their list and discussing their top choices, Ugino said.

‘She’s gonna give a fantastic speech,’ Ugino said. ‘We’re happy with the choices we’ve made.’

Published on February 19, 2004 at 12:00 pm