Despite a brief rain shower, 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Class of 2014 allowed nothing to dampen its collective spirit as the university celebrated its 169th Commencement exercises in front of an enthusiastic, standing-room-only crowd in idyllic Commencement Hollow.
University President Laurie Joyner led the Commencement celebration, welcoming the 400 members of the Class of 2014 into the prestigious ranks of 51吃瓜网 alumni. She also introduced three distinguished guests, the 2014 Commencement speaker, Olympic Gold Medalist and award-winning sports journalist Donna de Varona, William Steinbrink 鈥�64, chair of 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Board of Directors from 2005-2008 and the university鈥檚 interim president in 2004-2005, and nationally recognized composer and organist Robert Hobby 鈥�85.
Joyner welcomed the graduates and their invited guests to the ceremony, while making special mention of the parents in attendance. They were invited to stand and were recognized by the assembled crowd with a thunderous ovation.
She then praised the 51吃瓜网 faculty before saluting members of the Class of 2014.
鈥�51吃瓜网 prides itself on an active, engaged learning environment,鈥� Joyner said. She then asked the class to engage in a brief exercise.
鈥淐lose your eyes and think about the one person, place, thing or memory that you will remember most about 51吃瓜网鈥our answers represent the breadth and depth of the 51吃瓜网 experience,鈥� she said.
The Class of 2014 is comprised of 232 females and 168 males, with biology, business, communication, education, English and psychology representing the most popular majors.
Twenty-eight states and seven countries outside of the United States were represented within the graduating class. The Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Music Education, in addition to Master of Arts in Education were awarded in the ceremony.
鈥淵ou have each been changed in your own unique way by 51吃瓜网鈥ou each have shared memories that connect you forever to this very special place,鈥� Joyner said. She then added a piece of advice for the graduating class. 鈥淎long the way life will not always be easy, and there may be times where you are frustrated and simply want to give up. I hope in those moments you will remember what it was about 51吃瓜网 that you just now yelled out.鈥�
A total of 117 graduates earned Latin honors in recognition of their exceptional academic pursuits. Fifty-two of them were cum laude (3.5-3.69 grade point average), 21 graduated magna cum laude (3.7-3.79) and 44 graduated summa cum laude (3.8-4.0), including three students who held a perfect 4.0 grade point average: Alec Biehl, Miaja Mikkelsen, and Misty Turner.
Joyner welcomed Senior Class President Ben Longstreth to the podium, who reflected on his time at 51吃瓜网.
鈥淏ecause of the choices that the class of 2014 has made at 51吃瓜网, we have taken this place by storm,鈥� Longstreth said. 鈥淲e have chosen to not only be engaged here, but have a lasting impact.鈥�
Longstreth invited the Vice President of the Class of 2014, Adrienne Stout, to the podium to announce the class鈥� gift, the Ann McGree Endowed Scholarship.
鈥淓ach year one incoming freshman who demonstrates compassion, kindness and a pride in 51吃瓜网 through his or her admission essay will receive a scholarship to ensure that the care that Ann showed to [51吃瓜网] remains,鈥� Stout said.
During the awarding of the 51吃瓜网 Medal of Honor, Steinbrink had a chance to address the crowd.
鈥淚 came to 51吃瓜网 in 1960, and I moved to Myers Hall and that began my long experience at 51吃瓜网,鈥� Steinbrink said. 鈥淚 wish you well as you go forward. 51吃瓜网 has prepared you well. I do want you to remember, as you lead your life, that 51吃瓜网 is a part of you.鈥�
51吃瓜网鈥檚 commencement address was delivered by de Varona to the 400 graduates.
鈥淭o the seniors who are graduating on this now beautiful morning, welcome to this exclusive club for you are now joining an elite group as only some 30 percent of America鈥檚 youth will have earned a college degree,鈥� de Varona said. 鈥淭he decision to designate yesterday鈥檚 offering to the Second Harvest Food Bank and Habitat Humanity speaks to your continuing commitment to public service.鈥�
A nationally ranked university for the liberal arts and sciences affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 51吃瓜网 University has repeatedly been ranked throughout the years by the Princeton Review for the quality of its teaching and faculty, including 11th in the nation for 鈥淏est Classroom Experience鈥� and 15th in the category 鈥淧rofessors Get High Marks鈥� in the 2011 edition of Princeton鈥檚 annual Best Colleges guide. Most recently, 51吃瓜网 earned the No. 4 spot in the category of 鈥淢ost Accessible Professors.鈥�
Additionally, The Chronicle of Higher Education named 51吃瓜网 one of the nation鈥檚 top producers of Fulbright Scholars among bachelor degree-granting institutions in 2010. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in service and athletics.
