On Saturday May 16 the Class of 2026 will receive their diploma after four years of determination. Commencement is a celebration because it signifies a turning point from one stage of life to the next. The word commencement literally means “to start.” It represents the spirit of starting something new after four years at Wabash College. Commencement is one of the last times a group bounded by similar experiences such as professors, classmates and alumni will be gathered in one place.
“Commencement is a really wonderful celebratory event, a moment of transition,” said Dean of the College Todd McDorman. “It’s a great cap to the year and a celebration of the students, of passing generations and a time to both look back and forward”.
The College selects the commencement speakers through an extensive process that involves the Dean of the College, Dean of Students and Division chairs.
“We look for a couple of people that we think, based on our knowledge of them, likely have a message to share,” said Dean McDorman. “We don’t necessarily know what that message is, but we know they have one”
This year, the two speakers will be Precious Ainabor ’26 and Quinn Sholar ’26. Precious Ainabor is a biochemistry major with a minor in theater. Ainabor is from Auchi in Edo State, Nigeria, and plans to attend medical school while also training alongside global public health research, which will ideally lead him to his desired career path of becoming a general surgeon. Across campus, Ainabor is a brother of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies. He is also involved in the Global Health Initiative and Public Health Organization. He has also been the recipient of several awards and honors, including the Underwood Award, the Lloyd B. and Lone Howell Scholarship Award, and induction into the Hovey Honorary Chemical Society for excellence in Biochemistry and Chemistry coursework.
“I am excited to be bestowed with the honor of serving as a commencement speaker,” said Ainabor. “Having attended every commencement since my freshman year, I understand the magnitude of this honor and the audience I will be speaking to.”
Quinn Sholar was selected to speak because of his dedication to the college. Sholar is an Art major from Indianapolis, Indiana. He has a passion for marketing and advertisement, along with listening to music, lifting and sewing. His work in the classroom earned him the Dean’s List and Art History Awards. On the other hand, in athletics he is an All-American athlete in both football and track and field.
“Quinn and Precious have excelled in all sorts of facets,” said Dean McDorman. “They have been prominent student leaders.”
Across their four years here at Wabash College, Scholar and Ainabor have worked immensely to achieve their goals and leave their mark. They look forward to sharing their gratitude and celebrating a new beginning.