The most exciting time of the year is fast approaching!
Franklin Graduation Week will be held from Tuesday, May 16, to Sunday, May 21, 2023, and each day promises memorable events for attendees. On Tuesday evening, an Awards Ceremony and Reception will take place in the Nielsen Auditorium. Students will receive public recognition for their hard work and achievements this year and afterward experience one of the quintessential pleasures of being in Italian-speaking Switzerland—eating gelato! On Wednesday, graduating seniors will celebrate together at the picturesque Hotel Principe Leopoldo at a party hosted by Rosemary and Kevin McNeely, an alumnus of Franklin, Class of '73. It should be a great party for hardworking seniors to enjoy their success together one last time.
On Thursday, May 18, the second workshop of the Lugano Dance Project, "Equilibrium," will convene on the President's Lawn. Maria Bonzanigo of Compagnia Finzi Pasca will lead all interested dancers in a warm-up and choreography session. The first workshop on University Day had a great turnout, so all former participants are encouraged to come again, and new dancers are also welcome! The workshop will last about 2-3 hours, and it should be a rejuvenating experience for all in this celebratory week. In the evening, a Graduates' Boat Cruise sponsored by the Alumni Council will depart from Lugano Paradiso on Lake Lugano. A cruise on the lake at sunset will be the perfect occasion for remembering the “bella vista” of Lugano.
A mandatory Commencement Rehearsal for Graduates will be held on Friday, May 19, in the FUS auditorium to make sure that the public event goes smoothly. Class photos of all graduating bachelor's and master's degree students will be taken, and soon-to-be graduates will collect their cap and gown. After a quick lunch, seniors and anyone still in Lugano are encouraged to join the third Lugano Dance Project Workshop on the President's Lawn. This workshop should be a creative culmination of the series, and it will be fascinating to see what the dancers have come up with over time. In the evening, a Graduating Student and Family Send-Off Dinner will be hosted on Monte San Salvatore. This event is an excellent opportunity for Franklin students to show their families one of the most sublime views in Lugano from the mountain perspective.
Finally, the Franklin Commencement Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 21, from 4:00–6:00 pm, followed by a reception at the LAC (Lugano Arte e Cultura) in central Lugano. Held at the LAC for the first time, the ceremony will undoubtedly be an elegant and memorable rite of passage for all new Franklin graduates.