Founders Day Program 2026
| ORGAN PRELUDE | |
| Sonata III, Opus 65 | Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) |
Susan Bates, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Music
| INVOCATION | The Reverend Dr. Chris Donald University Chaplain |
| WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS | Susan R. Wente President |
| MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “Can We Sing the Darkness to Light” | Kyle Pederson (b. 1971) |
Wake Forest University Chamber Choir
Chris Gilliam, Director of Choral Activities
| INTRODUCTION OF SENIOR ORATION | Eric Stottlemyer Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Curricula |
| Senior Advisor: Alessandra Von Burg Associate Professor, Department of Communication | |
| SENIOR ORATION: “I’ve Seen Why the Caged Bird Sings” | Chase Clark (’26) |
| MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “Through Love to Light” | Elaine Hagenberg (b. 1979) |
Wake Forest University Chamber Choir
Chris Gilliam, Director of Choral Activities
| INTRODUCTION TO VIDEO | President Wente |
| PRESENTATION OF MEDALLION OF MERIT | President Wente |
2026 Recipients:
Dr. Jay Wayne Meredith (MD ’78)
Accepted by Dr. Craig M. Greven (’83)
Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag
The Medallion of Merit is the highest honor given by Wake Forest and is presented annually for outstanding achievement and distinguished contribution to the University. For a list of past recipients, visit go.wfu.edu/medallionofmerit.
| CLOSING REMARKS | Reverend Donald |
| SINGING OF THE ALMA MATER | |
| POSTLUDE: Carillon de Westminster, Opus 54 | Louis Vierne (1870-1937) |