鲍鱼tv

By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing

In the days leading up to the 鲍鱼tv鈥檚 commencement, like he has for the last nine years, Wayne Garcia goes over the names of graduates he鈥檒l be reading at the Yuengling Center.

There鈥檚 one practice run that stands out to him

鈥淚鈥檓 in my living room, reading out loud, when my Alexa starts rapping, 鈥楳y name is Alexa鈥� and so on,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淎nd I'm like, what?鈥�

The Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications senior instructor then realized why his Alexa had become a hip-hop artist.

鈥淎lexa Rapp鈥� was a graduate on his list.

But the virtual assistant misheard the name as the command, 鈥淎lexa, rap.鈥�

That unexpected moment was just one example of the quirks that happen behind the scenes.

For those in attendance, the conferring of thousands of degrees each semester seems to run smoothly: The graduates walk on stage, their names are announced, they鈥檙e handed a diploma and are then off to celebrate.

But, for the commencement readers, beyond playful moments, getting those names right takes preparation, care and a bit of courage.

鈥淚t鈥檚 fun, but nerve-wracking,鈥� said Travis Bell, one of three commencement readers and associate professor in the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications. 鈥淵ou literally have one time to do this and if you screw it up, you鈥檝e screwed it up.鈥�

This spring, commencement readers will announce nearly 8,000 graduates during 10 ceremonies May 8-11, with Garcia, Bell and Mark Schreiner each independently overseeing a share of those events.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an absolute honor,鈥� said Schreiner, the veteran of the trio. He began serving as a reader in 2014, with Garcia joining him in 2016 and Bell in 2023. 鈥淔or these students, this is the culmination of three, five, maybe six years of their lives. They put in the work. They are being recognized for it. I get to be a part of it.鈥�

Schreiner鈥檚 job as an assistant news director and journalist for W鲍鱼tv News qualified him for the gig, whereas Bell is a former television journalist. 

And Garcia鈥檚 credentials?

鈥淚 have a voice,鈥� he said with a laugh. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 all they required.鈥�

He鈥檚 also a former award-winning print journalist with radio experience.

About three weeks prior to commencement, each receives his lists of names 鈥� spelled phonetically if the student chooses that option. They then read those out loud, making notes of the tough names that require further practice.

The lists are alphabetical. But on graduation day, the students sit where they want among college classmates, walk on stage row by row, and then hand the commencement reader a card with their name on it.

鈥淪o, it doesn鈥檛 help to memorize the list and know to be ready for a particular name,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淵ou never know who is coming next.鈥�

While phonetic spellings can help with difficult names, they sometimes cause issues with those that should be easy.

鈥淪omeone with a simple name like Matthew Jones will have it spelled phonetically and that will actually mess you up because you won鈥檛 recognize the name immediately,鈥� Schreiner said. 鈥淢y twin brother鈥檚 name is Matthew, and I鈥檒l look at how the student鈥檚 card wants me to hit the enunciation and wonder if I have been saying his name wrong all these years.鈥�

Then there are the students who didn鈥檛 register for graduation far enough in advance to have their names printed on the list or card. Just prior to the ceremony, those students handwrite their name on a card.

鈥淚t sometimes looks like a doctor wrote it,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淭here have been times that I had no idea what it says.鈥�

In those instances, the readers ask for help through slight eye contact with the student, who usually, just as subtly, leans over and whispers their name.

There is also a physical aspect to the job that requires readers to be on their feet for as long as 45 minutes.

鈥淭he trick is to keep your knees bent,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淥therwise, they鈥檒l lock up like Frankenstein鈥檚 monster.鈥�

Tea and honey before and between ceremonies help their voice, as do sips of water while the deans introduce the next college sending graduates to stage. But 鲍鱼tv鈥檚 largest college usually has so many graduates that it takes up an entire ceremony, so there is no break.

鈥淭he most names I ever read without a break was probably 1,000 for the College of Arts and Sciences,鈥� Schreiner said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e only had one time when I lost my voice.鈥�

That was during a doctoral and graduate student ceremony. The PA system went out right before he introduced the individuals who sit on the stage during the ceremony 鈥� a mix of 鲍鱼tv leaders, speakers and honored students. Rather than waiting for the system to be fixed and causing a delay, Schreiner shouted their 12 names. 

鈥淭he moment I finish, everything started working again, of course,鈥� Schreiner said. He finished the ceremony using the microphone. But 鈥渨hen I woke in the morning, my voice was gone. Luckily, that was my final graduation for that semester.鈥�

Bell has also been the victim of an equipment mishap, although his was self-induced.

Prior to one of his first ceremonies, Bell made the mistake of forgetting to tape his microphone headset to his ear for further support. As he leaned forward to look at a card, the headset fell off.

鈥淚 felt like an idiot as I fumbled to pick it up and get it back on,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 made that mistake again.鈥�

And, yes, they mispronounce names.

The graduate usually lets them know with a glance, but the readers don鈥檛 have time for corrections. They must keep moving.

鈥淭he students are rarely upset,鈥� Schreiner said. 鈥淭hey understand it鈥檚 hard and we do our best.鈥�

Garcia鈥檚 most embarrassing error was at the expense of a friend鈥檚 son.

鈥淗is last name is Copper, but people often mistakenly called him Cooper,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淭hey were happy when his name was on my list because that meant it would be said right. Of course, I said Cooper.鈥�

Schreiner once nearly became too emotional to continue.

He was told in advance that a wheelchair-bound graduate was going to walk across the stage with the help of friends.

鈥淚 tried to ignore what was happening because I knew I would be overcome, so I just stared straight ahead,鈥� Schreiner said. 鈥淭he photographer鈥檚 assistant next to me starts dabbing her eyes and saying it鈥檚 beautiful. Without making eye contact, I had to ask her to stop because the ceremony would be over if I lost it.鈥�

Despite the pressure, they agree that the reward is worth the risk.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the most terrifying thing I do,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also the most gratifying and greatest honor I鈥檝e had as a professor. Graduation is one of the most special days in these students鈥� lives.鈥�