Diploma

The first diploma ever issued by the University of Arkansas, then known as Arkansas Industrial University, was given to W.J. Waggener on June 10, 1876. The degree was a Bachelor of Arts in Latin. The diploma measures 45 cm by 54.8 cm. The diploma is written entirely in Latin, and the ink has faded over time, leaving the signatures near illegible. Primarily across the center of the diploma and on the right side is a yellow/orange stain on the paper. The top is covered by an intricate header stating the name of the university and the bottom left corner is populated by a silver seal. The diploma was donated back to the university on October 6, 1933, by W. J. Waggener and was accompanied by a letter by Waggener. With an excerpt featured below, the letter outlines Waggener’s donations, which include the diploma, and his hopes to send a letter in the future regarding his experience at the university during its first years. The first class of the Arkansas Industrial University was comprised of nine students. While this number has increased exponentially, it remains the primary goal of a vast majority of students to get a diploma. Each student today shares something in common with the first-ever class in their pursuit of a diploma.

At first glance, the diploma is merely a fancy sheet of paper. Yet, for a student, it becomes something more. It is a symbol of late nights finishing homework, whole-hearted passion for a subject, and their aspirations for the future. Though W.J. Waggener attended this university in its very beginning, students here at the university today still share this thread of passion. The diploma is a unifying symbol for students across time. The first diploma and the ones issued today may look quite different, in both language and name, but they contain a meaning which transcends generations. Every student is here to become more aware and knowledgeable about the world around them, whether that be in Latin, economics, or international studies. A degree is used by students to allow them access into fields that require a background of knowledge, to help increase their pay grade, or allow access to higher education programs like graduate school (Jepsen 96). The diploma is a physical representation of the work that students have put in to help further them in their field. It is something different than a certificate or award, in part because of the meaning it conveys and time it takes (Jepsen 96). The diploma has become a universal symbol of the hard work that it takes to earn a degree. For every student, a diploma shows credibility and a dedication to a subject.

One of the moments that I am most looking forward to in my college career is receiving my diploma. Hundreds of thousands of students have done so before me, and it brings me great joy to know that I am moving from being a student to an alum. The culminating symbol of this transition in the real world from college life for me is a diploma. Just like Waggener, to move onto the next step in my life, I must first be awarded a degree that proves my status as an intellectual and a hard worker. A diploma, for all who receive one, is a visible record of the movement from student to the next phase in life.

Every diploma is significant. It is a simple object, but one that is classically timeless and has a lot of symbolism both in our society and for individual students. To walk across the stage and receive a diploma that you have worked several years for is an individually defining moment for any student. Though the diploma may not be any more materially valuable than the sheet of paper it is printed on, it is a vital part of the moment that a student is rewarded for all their hard work. One hundred and fifty years ago, W.J. Waggener and his eight classmates likely felt the same way.

What does a degree mean to you? Other than a shared history at the UofA, what might you have in common with the first class to attend? What does a diploma symbolize in your life?

Bibliography:

Jepsen, Christopher, et al. “The Labor-Market Returns to Community College Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates.” Journal of Labor Economics, vol. 32, no. 1, [The University of Chicago Press, Society of Labor Economists, NORC at the University of Chicago], 2014, pp. 95–121, https://doi.org/10.1086/671809.

Waggener, W J. W.j. Waggener Letter: Letter Concerning Early History of University of Arkansas. 1909. Print.