Students stand in line before a commencement ceremony. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Marketing Department

Graduation in May is an exciting time for many seniors as they push through the grind of exams, enjoy events like the baccalaureate service and commencement, and prepare for more informal traditions such as the senior sidewalk painting.

But for seniors who finish their coursework in December, graduation looks a lot less conventional.

Senior Silas Growden, who majored in philosophy and minored in computer science, doesn’t plan on returning to walk in May 2025 with the rest of the senior class. Growden, a self-described introvert, said he came to college without a suit and tie to avoid events like senior dinners.

“I’m going to unceremoniously receive my diploma in the mail and get on with it,” Growden said. “I’ve been to a lot of graduations for my older siblings, and high school graduations and whatnot, and to me I don’t put a lot of stock in it — it’s not important to me that I walk. It’s almost more important for my mom and dad that they get to attend than it is for me to go.”

But other seniors, like Brooke Funke, plan to come back and attend commencement in the spring.

“I’m just happy to be done,” Funke said. “It would be more convenient if there was a graduation in December, but I know we don’t have enough students to do that.”

Senior Sarah Trimbath also plans to come back and walk in the spring, though she will miss her friends.

“I will miss participating in the senior spring traditions, especially the traditions and senior week in Kappa,” Trimbath said.

Those who graduate in December also often have an untraditional collegiate path, some completing their work early and others finishing after an extra semester. Growden took extra classes every semester in order to graduate early.

“If it’s not important to you to stay here for personal reasons and relationships, if you’re only here for your education, graduate early,” Growden said. “It’s great. You can do it — 18 credits, 21 credits, it might sound like a lot but you’ll manage, you’ll be OK, so if you think you might want to graduate early go for it — I’m glad I’m doing it.”

Trimbath, who majored in international business and went on WHIP, said she is excited to graduate early, and advises those who wish to graduate early to look to the future.

“My advice would be to make a plan early on about how you will accomplish everything for your major, core, and college credit requirements,” Trimbath said.

Funke, who double majored in politics and philosophy, said she is looking for a job in government after graduation.

“My boyfriend lives in Germany, so I think I’m going to go live there for a couple of months,” Funke said. “He graduates in October, so hopefully he’ll come to the U.S. and then I want to work in D.C.”

Growden said after graduation he plans to move back to home in Colorado until he gets married in May and hopes to pursue a career in computer science.

“Hillsdale has done more for me as a person, as a moral agent in the world, than it has necessarily for this or that particular job,” Growden said.

Trimbath said that her leadership class with Peter Jennings, associate professor of leadership studies, was transformative.

“The biggest life lesson I learned at Hillsdale was from my leadership class with Dr. Jennings,” Trimbath said. “I learned that the good is at stake in every situation and that we have a responsibility to pursue it.”