Rhode Island College President John Nazarian rejoices when the sun finally makes an appearance yesterday. Nazarian, who is retiring after 58 years at the Providence campus, 18 of them as president, presided over his last commencement ceremony.

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The Providence Journal / John Freidah

Rhode Island College President John Nazarian rose before 5 a.m. yesterday morning with a single thought — the same thought that has woken him on commencement day for the past 18 years, and one doubtless shared by other college presidents at this most fickle time of year.

“I hope the weather clears up in time,” he thought. “I know the students really want commencement to be outside.”

Across the state, campuses in Providence, Bristol, Smithfield and South Kingstown were blessed with a pleasant, sunny day as they greeted more than 15,000 gowned and capped graduates, proud parents and a slew of dignitaries for the annual celebrations. Among other things, graduates heard one-liners from a former U.S. president, a plea to serve their community from an Olympic gold medalist, and the parting words of a beloved college president.

At Bryant University in Smithfield, President Ronald Machtley was so effusive praising former President George H.W. Bush — Machtley called him the most accomplished and successful man alive — that Bush joked, “I would have liked Barbara to have been here to hear that introduction. Things would be going a lot better at home after 63 years.”

Bush also quipped that there was little chance graduates would remember anything he said, and he added, “If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, trying missing a couple of car payments.”

And finally, “If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.”

At RIC, political officials including Governor Carcieri, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin turned out to honor Nazarian, departing the college after more than a half-century.

At Roger Williams University, graduates marched to the trill of bagpipes, while relatives crowded under two giant white tents to view the proceedings. In a short commencement address, track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee exhorted the graduates to make time to serve their communities.

Johnson & Wales University held two graduation ceremonies at the Dunkin Donuts Center, a morning commencement for the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Colleges and an afternoon ceremony for the College of Business and School of Technology. Senior Nathan N. Tamba, who graduated magna cum laude with an accounting degree, delivered the student address in the afternoon, and described his journey from a refugee in his native Liberia to his success here in Rhode Island.

“Today I stand before you as a symbol of one thing,” Tamba said. “The power and strength of a big dream.” He exhorted his classmates “to work harder than anyone else” and to relish their freedom.

“Create the highest possible vision of yourself,” he said. “You become what you believe.”

In South Kingstown, the University of Rhode Island started its graduation weekend yesterday, handing out 643 graduate degrees to master’s and doctorate candidates, including 456 Rhode Islanders, in the Ryan Center. The university’s undergraduate commencement is this afternoon at 12:30 on the quadrangle of the Kingston campus.

Here are scenes from each of the graduations:

Roger Williams University

In Bristol, Roger Williams University conferred degrees on 953 students at a festive commencement attended by 5,000 on campus. University President Roy J. Nirschel drew cheers and laughter when he put on sunglasses and sang the theme from The MTV hit The Hills by Natasha Beddingfield. He also quoted Warren Zevon, the late rocker, telling the graduates “to make sure to enjoy every sandwich.”

Erin Elizabeth McAvoy, of Danbury, Conn., delivered the student address. McAvoy, a theater major who also studied business and dance, urged the graduates to take risks as they make their way in the world. “As we leave this ceremony and say our farewells, we are leaving behind who we were as we begin to embrace who we are and who we will be.”

Quoting Winston Churchill, McAvoy said, “Success is never final and failure is never fatal; it is the courage to pursue both that matters.”

Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the Olympic track star, delivered the commencement address. She gave a pithy speech lasting about eight minutes. “Give back,” said Joyner-Kersee. “Service is too important, serving is so important.”

Bryant University

Under a vast, white tent, Madan Annavarjula proudly witnessed the graduation of the first 36 students from the school’s four-year-old international business program.

The rigorous new program requires every student to become proficient in a second language — Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French or Italian — and to spend at least a semester studying abroad before graduating. And even though students have to commit to the program as freshmen, 225 are enrolled.

“We firmly believe all business is international,” says Annavarjula, an associate professor of management and coordinator of the international program. “We feel we equip our students the best when we teach them the nuances of international business.”

Students in the program study in Spain, Italy, France, Costa Rica and Australia. Many study in China.

Annavarjula says many of the international business students already have jobs waiting in major banks and investment firms and some are even turning down jobs that don’t seem sufficiently challenging.

“It’s a growing program,” Annavarjula said. “We’re very bullish about our future.”

One of the graduates, Emily Panasowich, of Robbinsville, N.J., said a big reason she enrolled in international business was because she wanted to travel and she had never before left the country.

She made up for that at Bryant. She learned French and traveled to China, South Africa and a business seminar in Europe.

She plans to work for the next three months as an au pair in Paris. After that, she wants to return to Africa, possibly with a nonprofit organization. “I want to go help,” Panasowich said. “Not in a corporate structure.”

“I was really lucky to have the experiences I did,” said Panasowich. “I learned so much.”

Johnson & Wales University

Among the thousands of friends and relatives at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center were Joseph and June Marie Sousa of East Providence, there to celebrate their granddaughter, Keri Lynne Sousa, who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in accounting.

“She received all kinds of honors,” said Joseph Sousa, pulling out a commencement program and pointing. Golden Quill Honor Society, Alpha Beta Kappa Honor Society and Honors Scholar were listed by her name.

Keri Lynne, 22, is his first grandchild to receive a bachelor’s degree.

“She did all this while she worked at Pawtucket Credit Union 20 hours a week, and she never missed a day of school or work,” said her father, Rick Sousa, of Seekonk. “It’s just so important for her to have a good education and get a good job. I’m a self-employed painter, so I know,” he said.

He and his wife, Barbara, did not finish college, Rick Sousa said. Their daughter is already on her way to the life they hoped she would have.

On June 2, Keri Lynne starts a full-time job with Amica Insurance.

Mosunmola Johnson felt similar pride, watching her son, Babatunde Johnson, 22, receive a business degree.

An immigrant from Nigeria who never had the chance to attend college, Monsunmola Johnson now lives in Providence and works as a certified nursing assistant.

“This is a dream come true for me,” she said, looking out over the crowd. “The fact I was able to, with the help of God, put him through college, that was a very big accomplishment for me. Education is very important to my family.”

She hopes her son will go on to graduate school. But first comes the celebrations.

“After this, we will go home to have a party,” she said, motioning to the friends and family members who joined her at the ceremony. “And tomorrow, we will go to church and give thanks to God.”

Rhode Island College

Once the rain stopped and the sun began to filter through gray clouds yesterday morning, Rhode Island College President John Nazarian allowed himself to reflect on something other than the weather.

Yesterday was the 18th and last time he presided over RIC’s commencement. After a 58-year “love affair,” as one education official called it— as a student, professor, administrator and, finally, president of the state college — Nazarian, 75, will retire at the end of next month.

“I think reality is sinking in,” he said as he donned his robes and regalia an hour before the ceremony. “For my part, I’m not going to say goodbye. I can’t. This is my whole life.”

Faculty, administrators and dignitaries filtered into the “robe room” set up in the Student Union.

Nazarian posed for photographs with members of the Board of Governors for Higher Education. The board appointed Nazarian the honor of president emeritus at its board meeting last week.

“Today is, to some degree, bittersweet,” said Michael Ryan, vice president of the Board of Governors and a RIC alumnus. “John has been synonymous with the college for many years, and that’s one of the things the board felt very strongly about when we made him president emeritus — that he’ll never not be part of this institution.”

Nazarian greeted a stream of important people, shaking hands and patting arms: U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Governor Carcieri, and former Gov. Bruce Sundlun, who was receiving an honorary degree.

“How are you governor?” Nazarian asked Sundlun. “Did you enjoy last night?” Friday night, Nazarian hosted the annual commencement gala, celebrating faculty, staff, recipients of honorary degrees and student leaders. At one point during the party, Nazarian said he choked up. “But then I recovered and I kept on going.” He began recounting the many gifts, cards and mementos he received over the past several days. “They just want to see me cry,” he joked.

Outside, to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” 1,304 undergraduates began walking to their seats. Nazarian went to a window to take in the scene. In the audience were several of his sisters and sisters-in-law.

Unbeknownst to Nazarian, the Board of Governors had inscribed a large crystal vase they would give to him during the ceremony. And the senior class planned to release 50 painted lady butterflies at the end of commencement — another surprise to honor the departing president.

He came away from the window and took his place in the procession.

“It’s going to be low-key,” he said, donning is black velvet cap and stepping into line.School: Rhode Island College

jjordan@projo.com