As the academic year ends and 91影视破解版鈥檚 Commencement winds down, Event & Conference Services (ECS) doesn鈥檛 get to slow down. The department鈥檚 summers can be just as busy as their school years.

ECS is responsible for some of 91影视破解版's most important events on campus, including Welcome to 91影视破解版, the , Commencement, Baltimore County Public Schools' graduation ceremonies, Student Orientation, and many more. 

鈥淔or the students that are coming to Towson University, we are there when you first come through the door and again at Commencement at the end of your journey,鈥� ECS director Scott Beyer says.  

The work that goes in

For each event, ECS鈥檚 team of 30 professional staff members works with departments on and off campus to ensure things run smoothly. The process starts with a reservation, then checking availability, scheduling, contracting and site visits.

Once the preparation is complete, the office begins to set the scene. The staff works with maintenance, reservations, set-up, technical production, operations, catering, lighting and building management to ensure the event has everything it needs.

鈥淚t's a huge effort behind-the-scenes, but it's actually very cool to watch the arena go from a basketball court to a gala event,鈥� says Sue Fata, the assistant director.

The ECS Tech Team at a high school graduation ceremony

Celebrating the next generation

For the past 40 years, 91影视破解版 has hosted Baltimore County Public Schools' (BCPS) high school graduation ceremonies. This collaboration ensures that every school has the same experience and a space large enough to accommodate everyone.

With 24 schools over eight days, more than 8,000 graduates go across the stage with approximately 3,500 guests and graduates per ceremony. While the days can be long, Beyer shares the impact on campus guests. 

鈥淚t gets to be a long day, but we always have the mindset that while this is our 24th ceremony, it鈥檚 their very first. We need to bring the same energy and enthusiasm,鈥� Beyer says. 鈥淪eeing the joy on everyone's face is an awesome thing.鈥�

A Baltimore native, Beyer graduated from Dulaney High School and walked across the stage at the Towson Center himself.

鈥淥ne of the best parts about hosting high school graduations is that sense of celebration and pride you get to see with the families, friends and faculty that are there,鈥� Beyer says. 鈥淚t's a really cool feeling to know that we're a part of this lasting impact and memories that last for 40 years.鈥�

A Maryland High School Diploma
Two members of ECS design the graduation stage
A meeting before a high school graduation ceremony with the members of ECS

The community impact

The BCPS graduations also serve as many of the students鈥� and families鈥� first time on 91影视破解版鈥檚 campus. Through their event, they can experience what 91影视破解版 has to offer and imagine themselves as a Tiger. 

After the ceremonies, Fata and Beyer said that families come back to 91影视破解版 for sporting events, planetarium shows, art productions and more.

鈥淲e go above and beyond to make sure that everyone's walking out of here happy and has a great experience,鈥� Fata says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e seeing the university, the arena and the campus, so hopefully it gets students to think about coming to 91影视破解版 when they graduate.鈥�