WINONA, Minn. — In full academic regalia, 953 students will stride across an elevated stage Friday to accept diplomas at Winona State University. There will be three ceremonies, all at McCown gym, at 9, 12 and 3 o’clock. The ceremonies will be streamed live with captions in multiple languages. Across campus between the clock tower and the gazebo, students will proclaim their achievement by ringing the commencement bell that President Scott Olson introduced as a Harvard-inspired tradition two years ago. The Spring 2023 class includes:
> Business: 144 students (137 undergrads and 7 graduate students).
> Engineering: 137 (111 and 26).
> Liberal Arts: 198 (196 and 2).
> Nursing and Health: 347 (231 and 116).
> Science and Engineering: 127 (126 and 1).
In all, the class is off about 5% from 1,000 a year earlier and 1,200 a year before that, reflecting declining enrollment.
Commencement bell. Throughout the day graduates will be ringing the university’s commencement bell to proclaim their achievement. The bell will be outside at the quadrangle clock tower