Employee Volunteers Bring Commencement to Life
Each May, thousands of visitors descend on the CUIMC campus to celebrate their graduates at commencement ceremonies. With over 1,400 students celebrating across three days, four schools, and nine ceremonies, commencement week is a massive undertaking that requires collaboration from departments across the medical center. Employee volunteers are the unsung heroes helping to keep commencement festivities positive and stress-free each year.
From the subway entrance to an auditorium seat, volunteers wearing white polo shirts and bright smiles guide visitors through their journey across campus, ensuring that each guest has their needs met and makes it to the right place to celebrate their graduate.
Maintaining such an extensive event relies on over 140 volunteers, including many who return each year to support the celebrations. One of these veteran volunteers, Kathleen Crowley, has become a commencement week staple for staff and volunteers alike.
While Crowley can usually be found serving as vice president of environmental health and safety or teaching in her role as adjunct assistant professor in the Mailman School of Public Health, during commencement week she is known as the captain of the subway greeting team.
“Some variation of ‘Subway greeter with KC’ is always one of the most requested roles on our volunteer form,” says CUIMC events specialist Emily Hines. “Dr. Crowley tenaciously works long hours outside all week in all weather conditions—except when she has to slip away to join the faculty procession in the Columbia Mailman ceremony.”
Kathleen Crowley and her co-captain Joe Fernandez lead the subway greeting team together each year.
As captain of the subway and street greeting team, Crowley leads and coordinates volunteers throughout commencement week with her co-captain Joe Fernandez, supervisor of material management with CUIMC Facilities. The team is the first point of contact for graduates, families, and guests arriving on campus.
“Being able to welcome them, offer assistance, and set a positive tone at the very beginning of their experience is incredibly rewarding,” says Crowley. “It is a small interaction, but it contributes meaningfully to the overall experience of the day. There is no second chance for a first impression.”
Kathleen Crowley has served as a commencement volunteer for more than two decades and says that the week remains one of the most meaningful experiences of her year. “What stands out most are the moments when a simple interaction makes a difference—helping a family that is unsure where to go, assisting someone who is running late, or guiding a large group smoothly through a busy arrival point," she says.
Commencement events also rely on newer volunteers like Daniel Silveira, secretary of medical services at Student Health on Haven. In his third year of volunteering, Silveira enjoys participating in such an important event—and holds a standing record of being one of the first five volunteers to sign up each year.
Danny Silveira has previously volunteered as a disability seating host and an Armory lobby greeter.
“Danny is still a relatively newer volunteer but is one of the most enthusiastic I've ever encountered,” says Hines. “Newer and first-time volunteers make up nearly 40% of our team and we couldn’t do it without them.”
Silveira has served as a disability host and a lobby greeter and enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many people from the CUIMC community.
“My favorite part of the job is helping people and making sure everyone has a memorable and exciting day, and meeting so many wonderful people from all over the world and from our beautiful country,” says Silveira.
Danny Silveira encourages volunteers to serve with a positive attitude and helpful mindset. "Help where you can, volunteer with a huge heart, stay open to learning," says Silveira. "You will not only help others, you will grow as well. And always stay smiling!"
As commencement week approaches, Crowley, Silveira and teams across the medical center are preparing for the festivities and encouraging more employees to help with the celebration.
“Commencement offers a unique opportunity to engage with the CUIMC community in a highly visible and meaningful way. It allows you to contribute to an important institutional milestone while collaborating with colleagues from across the university,” says Crowley. “It is a rewarding experience, and I encourage others to be part of it.”
Crowley’s advice for volunteers? Show up with a positive attitude, a willingness to help, and a calm, solutions-oriented mindset.
“Small actions, welcoming someone warmly or helping resolve a minor issue, can have a significant impact on someone’s experience,” says Crowley. “If you focus on being helpful and attentive, you will contribute meaningfully to the success of the event.”
Join the Celebration
Volunteers are still needed for this year’s ceremonies. Volunteer opportunities are available for the following ceremonies:
- Tuesday, May 19
- School of Nursing Graduation Ceremony, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Mailman School of Public Health Class Day, 2:00 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 21
- Human Nutrition Class Day Celebration, 12:30 - 5:30 p.m.
- College of Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Graduation Ceremony, 2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Interested employees can learn more about specific volunteer roles and apply to volunteer here.