Dec. 18, 2021 was a true day of celebration: TCU Commencement returned to the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena for the first time since 2019 and 726 Horned Frogs earned their degrees.
TCU awarded 532 bachelor’s degrees, 109 master’s degrees and 85 doctoral degrees, and Brite Divinity School awarded nine degrees. 85 students graduated cum laude, 76 magna cum laude and 28 summa cum laude. Five students earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
The morning ceremony featured 320 students receiving degrees from AddRan College of Liberal Arts, the College Fine Arts, the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Neeley School of Business.
The afternoon ceremony highlighted 406 candidates receiving degrees from Brite Divinity School, Bob Schieffer College of Communication, College of Education, College of Science & Engineering and Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
A reception for graduates and their families was held in the Brown-Lupton University Union between ceremonies, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m., and campus came alive with happy reunions, moments of reflection and seemingly endless photo opportunities.
Of special note in the morning ceremony was the presentation of two honorary degrees to Opal Lee and John R. Giordano.
Opal Lee, nationally known as “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” was presented an honorary Doctor of Letters for her work as an educator and counselor, as well as for her tireless work with numerous charitable causes. Lee earned a bachelor’s degree from Wiley College (now Wiley University) and a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from North Texas State University.
Lee is a long-time Fort Worth resident who is a renowned educator and civil rights activist. She has walked many miles promoting a campaign to make Juneteenth a national day of observance. That day came to fruition this year as Lee turned 95.
John R. Giordano was presented with an honorary Doctor of Musical Arts for his extensive career as a conductor, performer, composer, arranger and teacher. The TCU alumnus was music director and conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra for 28 seasons and is now music director emeritus.
Giordano earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music at TCU and was recognized in 1996 by the Board of Trustees with the naming of the piano wing of the Mary D. and F. Howard Walsh Center for Performing Arts. In 2009, the Cliburn presented the John Giordano Jury Chairman Discretionary Award in appreciation of his dedication and devoted leadership to that international piano competition.
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