Highlights from the Class of 2023 Commencement Celebrations and Ceremonies

Posted May 10, 2023

The Otterbein University Class of 2023 crossed the commencement stage on Sunday, April 30. This year, Otterbein granted 491 bachelor’s degrees, 80 master’s degrees, and 34 doctor of nursing practice degrees.

The undergraduate commencement was split between two ceremonies, one at 9:30 a.m. and one at 1:30 p.m. Jonathan Hargis ’79, Otterbein alumnus, retired executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Charter, spoke at the morning ceremony and former Senator Rob Portman addressed the undergraduates at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony. Barb Smoot H’21, president and CEO of Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD), addressed Otterbein’s advanced degree candidates at the 5:30 p.m. ceremony. Madelyn Nelson ’23, student trustee and Timmy Wotring ’23, student government president, delivered greetings on behalf of the Class of 2023 while other graduates delivered the invocation, benediction, and led the Otterbein Love Song.

Due to inclement weather, all ceremonies were held inside Clements Recreation Center.

Other Commencement Highlights

Commencement weekend saw many unforgettable moments and memorable scenes. See our coverage of commencement in our photo galleries and videos by following the links below.

Congratulations to ALL the graduates of the Class of 2023. We can’t wait to see what your futures hold!