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ÂÒÂ×ÊÓÆµ creates new commencement tradition with centennial mace

Published: 05/15/2025

A man holding a mace at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓÆµ commencement

Gannon University's Centennial celebration now will live on in future commencement ceremonies. 

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓÆµ Makerspace designed and created a mace to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the university. The ceremonial mace is traditionally used in commencement ceremonies to symbolize scholarship and integrity and is used to lead the academic procession. 

As a new ÂÒÂ×ÊÓÆµ tradition, the mace will now be carried in by the Faculty Senate President each year at commencement. 

"This was something we knew we wanted to include in our Centennial commencement the bonus is that it gets to live on in our commencement ceremonies forever," said University President Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D.

This mace is extremely special to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓÆµ. The brass is made from relics sourced from our Mary, Seat of Wisdom chapel. The inlays and Celtic cross are replicas from Archbishop ÂÒÂ×ÊÓÆµ’s chalice. The pommel is made from mahogany native to Florida, representing our Ruskin campus, as well as the maple from Erie.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓÆµ was so proud to debut this new special part of our commencement ceremonies tomorrow. It was carried this year by Mahesh Aggarwal, professor of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty Senate President.