Before the fanfare of commencement there is Baccalaureate – a time to gather with friends and family, to pause and reflect on the milestones achieved and the countless experiences that have made you who you are today.
Join your fellow Lawrentians and family members to attend the 2026 Baccalaureate Service on Saturday, June 13, at 11 a.m., in Memorial Chapel, featuring guest speaker Dr. Constance Kassor. After the service, gather for the cookout for seniors, families, faculty & staff on Main Hall Green, from noon – 1:30 p.m.
This year’s guest speaker, Dr. Constance Kassor, is a former Lawrence professor of Religious Studies and current chair of the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Humanities Center at Cuyahoga Community College. A scholar of Buddhist thought and Asian religious traditions, her work often explores the value of slowing down and doing less in a world that constantly asks us to do more.
Kassor garnered national attention for her immensely popular “Doing Nothing" course that focused on showing students how to disconnect from daily pressures to be fully present mentally, physically, and emotionally. Her forthcoming book, “Awakened Awareness,” examines the nature of knowledge through the work of a 15th-century Tibetan Buddhist philosopher.
Through music, readings, and an inspiring keynote speech, the Baccalaureate Service offers a rare opportunity in your busy life as a graduating senior for an intentional moment of reflection. As your years of work culminate with graduation, take the time to look back on the growth, discoveries, challenges, and accomplishments that have shaped your journey. Then prepare, mentally and emotionally, for the moment you walk across the Commencement stage and embark on an exciting new chapter in life.
