Graduation

Congratulations, seniors!
Celebrating four years of friends, hard work and achievement

By Dani Tifft

May 2004 – Spring has arrived and, for graduating college seniors, it comes with the thrill of new beginnings. For some, this excitement is combined with the fear of moving out into the “real world.” For others, graduation is a stepping stone as they continue to avoid the 9-to-5 world by enrolling in grad school.

Students and colleges alike are preparing for the big day and for everyone involved it promises to be a great celebration of friendship, hard work and achievement.

Assumption College has planned its big day for the morning of May 14 on the H.L. Rocheleau baseball field. The commencement ceremony will be presented in part by guest speaker Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, President of the Institute on Religion and Public Life. He is receiving an honorary degree from the college for his widespread public activism on behalf of justice and civil rights. An award will also be presented to Assumption alum Michael Ritchie, former producer of the famous Williamstown Theater Festival. This will be Assumption’s 88th commencement ceremony, sending a large class of eager young minds out into the working world. This year marks

Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s 137th commencement ceremony. Ray Kurzweil, noted as being a “worldrenowned inventor, entrepreneur, author, and futurist,” will be speaking at the event – a fitting selection for an institute that prides itself on producing students that are “true technological humanists.” WPI has
scheduled their presentation for May 21. It is an especially remarkable year for the school as they will also be inaugurating a new president; Dennis Berkey will take the reigns on Friday, May 20, just prior to the Baccalaureate Ceremony that evening.

Clark University will toast their seniors goodbye on Sunday, May 22. Speaker David Broder of The Washington Post is a distinguished commentator, columnist, and political/ national correspondent. In fact, according to author and columnist Richard Reeves, he is “…probably the most respected and influential political journalist in the country.” The school will also present honorary degrees to E.O.Wilson, respected as the “father of biodiversity,” and to Sam Bass Warner and Mary Walsh, who changed the way in which we see urban development and urban education.

Holy Cross will host the most recognizable graduation speaker. On the morning of May 27, Tim Russert of NBC’s “Meet the Press” will deliver the commencement address. Senior and valedictorian Mary Beth Ryan speaks for the class when she says that he is a great choice. “A lot of seniors are really psyched to have him!” After all, he is said to have ‘interviewed nearly every major figure on the American political scene.’” Ryan sums up the graduating senior predicament well. “I can’t believe how fast these four years have gone by and right now I’m just trying to enjoy the time I have left. But I think I’m ready for a change in lifestyle.”