Congratulations to the Class of 2005!
By Robert A. Scott, President, 91吃瓜网
Introduction
Congratulations, Class of 2005! To all who today receive Associates, Bachelor鈥檚, Master鈥檚, and Doctoral听degrees, as well as Special Certificates, we say, 鈥淲elcome to the world of Adelphi alumni – – a world of听people at the top of their professions, ready to assist you.鈥�
Alumni represent the heritage of a university, and serve as a link between what was and what will be.听You now join those imbued with the spirit of alma mater, who dream for the continuing enhancement of听their Adelphi degree.
Today we are assembled to celebrate the consummation of a dream, the听fruition of a hope of years. The imagined and the longed for has (sic)听become real.1
With these words, as timely as they are uplifting, President Frank Blodgett – – yes, the one for whom听Blodgett Hall is named – – greeted the assembly at the first Commencement held in Garden City in 1930,听after 67 years as an Academy and a College in Brooklyn. He awarded 136 degrees, compared to the听2,647 this weekend. He awarded the Masters degree as the highest achievement. Yesterday, at our听hooding ceremony, we awarded 42 doctoral degrees. I expect one graduate of 1930, Florentina Marie听Leipniker, who heard Dr. Blodgett speak, to be at Reunion this June. The person who coordinated the听1930 Commencement, Dean Ruth Harley, after whom the Harley University Center is named, and with听whom I speak throughout the year, will be 103 years of age this week. Both are still connected to听Adelphi.
During this past academic year, we celebrated Adelphi鈥檚 seventy-five years in Garden City – – with听churches joining us in ringing bells and playing chimes on September 30, 2004, anniversary of the first听day of classes in 1929 – – and with proclamations by elected officials and civic organizations. Today, we听complete this anniversary year by celebrating you.听In 1930, Adelphi had three buildings; the 400-plus students and 41 faculty had spent a year in what听President Blodgett called 鈥渢emporary competition with the sound of hammers, electric drills, and steam听shovels.鈥�2
In parallel to the first year in Garden City, you, the graduates of 2005, also experienced the challenges and听benefits of construction – – the new residence hall, the renovation of the Library, the installation of听computer labs, creation of 鈥渟mart鈥� classrooms, and the addition of air conditioning to several residence听halls, among other projects.
As with the first graduating class, you survived the turmoil and, as President Blodgett said, 鈥淪omeday,听perhaps, remembering even this will be a pleasure.鈥�3
Some of us, he said, may not be present to see but there will be those who听will see the plans now started carried much further along the road of听progress.4
How could he have known that what he said in 1930 would describe our contemporary experience? Who听among us has not marveled at the pace of construction of the new Fine Arts building or been inspired by听the stunning plans for renovating Woodruff; constructing a new Sports Center; developing a Performing听Arts Center that will be a new home for dance, drama, and music; building the new Maiello-Hagedorn听Child Activity Center; and creating space for over 300 cars to be parked beneath a relocated and听resurfaced Stiles Field?
What Dr. Blodgett could not have envisioned is how far Adelphi has come. You, today鈥檚 graduates, are a听complex composition of traditionally-aged undergraduates, adult students returning for a degree, transfer听students, and graduate students 鈥� from some 60 countries and 40 states. Yet, as in 1930, each of you has a听personal story, a story of obstacles overcome and dreams yet to be realized. It is your story, and our small听part in it, that forms our common bond and motivates the Trustees, officers, deans, staff, and our听incredible faculty.
We have shared in joy on many occasions, both in class and out, and we have shared in sorrow, such as听September 11, 2001 – – a day seared in our collective memory and still influential in our daily lives.听September 11 is a day we will always have in common. We will remember where we were, what we were听doing, who we were with, and who we lost from our lives. We all know those who still sob and those听who still cough from that day.
From this tragedy, we have learned more about the ideals behind which we stand united, and the values听that led to the founding of our nation. We now more clearly see the consequences of sitting out elections听and allowing others to speak for us. We now want to know the causes of turmoil in other lands before it听spills over on us. Perhaps we see more clearly the truth of renowned educator and social critic Robert听Hutchin鈥檚 statement, 鈥淭he death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination by ambush. It will be a听slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment鈥� – – unless we act.5 And act you must,听for you are prepared.
In 1930, as now, Adelphi was concerned about advancing students鈥� character and preparing active听citizens, not simply training graduates for careers and commerce. Dr. Blodgett said of the College,
There will be – – I trust – – an 鈥ver deepening realization among us all that听the fundamental purpose of an education is to enable one more intelligently听and more potently to help – – not to hinder, to build – – not to destroy, to听serve – – not to demand service.6
Look around and beside you, and you will see the many students who already exemplify this vision for听intellect, compassion, and engagement.
They include Shelly-Ann Anderson, who served in Iraq and is graduating Cum Laude; September听Portuondo-Smith, an 鈥淎merica Reads鈥� tutor in the Roosevelt School System; Tiffany Tucker, who with听friends created the 鈥淩edemption鈥� packet, a beginner鈥檚 guide to the college admissions process; Jessica听Beattie, who persevered despite major obstacles to be here today; Stephen Unger, a transfer student who听started his professional life as a construction worker, and last year won the Jay B. Nash Outstanding听Major Award in Education given by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education,听Recreation and Dance; Robert Nugent, Marine Corps veteran and aspiring entrepreneur; Olufunmilay听(Funmi) Taiwo, Student Affairs Student Employee of the Year; and Shahram Hashemi, a national finalist听in the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics essay contest, founder of the World Student Assembly on campus, and听co-creator of the teleconference with university students in Tehran.
Also included are Alexandre Manor, accepted in a large number of prestigious Ph.D programs in Physics;听Dobromira (Dobi) Banova, who will pursue Ph.D studies at the University of Michigan; Jennifer Baldwin,听Kelly Spada O鈥橩eef, and Christopher Morrell, who completed the Masters Program in General听Psychology with distinction, and perfect 4.0 grade point averages; Joe Sarno, keeper of the Panther Web听Radio signal; Scott Urgola, who completed an internship at The Woody Guthrie Foundation and is听already, according to his professor, 鈥渁 considerable presence as singer-songwriter in the New York jazz听club scene鈥�; Tal Sheinfeld, from Israel, star student-athlete, who says he found his second 鈥渟kate鈥� at听Adelphi; Alero Akuya, from California, class president, Orientation Leader, and aspiring lawyer; Scott听Pursner, active student leader, winner of the Parents Association Annual Senior Award, and a fixture on听campus who helped us all grow; and Diane Liriano, president of C.A.L.I.B.E.R.
Finally, I would cite Sean McGrath, Homecoming King and Prize-winning History student; Ryan Soltan听and Kathy DiPietro, star scholar-athletes; Daniel Rivera, who created Operation End Hate; Katherine听Hock, three-time All-American, whose lacrosse team won the national championship last year, who last听week scored the goal to send her team to the Final Four again, and whose four goals yesterday were not听enough to prevail, but she is our hero; Jamie Perella, Josepha Pace, Dina Cali, and two-time All-American听Jo Jo Coiro, all co-captains of our exciting soccer team who taught us about leadership; and Anna Elwood听and Jenn Susi who this month brought 鈥淓xcellence in Acting鈥� awards home from the American College听Theatre Festival.
These students represent the many others with equally compelling stories who deserve recognition for听what they scored in the classroom and lab, and on the field, the court, the stage, the screen, and at the听easel. They, too, are the outstanding graduates of 2005.
However, students are not the only ones we salute today. In addition to you and our distinguished听honorary degree recipients, Amy Hagedorn and Bob Willumstad, we recognize seven faculty members听who are leaving our active ranks to attempt retirement. To them, Harry Davies, Morris Eagle, Michael听Givant, George Stricker, Ellenmorris Tiegerman, Hugh Wilson, and Caryle Wolahan, we say 鈥淭hanks,听farewell, return.鈥� Also, two trustees are leaving, Steve Fischer and Bernard Ashe. Each helped make听Adelphi what it is today; we bear your stamp, we are grateful for your service, we will not forget. Nor will听we forget those who, like Susan Martinez, passed from us on their way to this day.
We also bear the stamp of Adelphi鈥檚 early leaders and faculty. Listen again to Dr. Blodgett,
In this rapidly changing and swiftly advancing age it is difficult to secure听agreement as to what constitutes education for there are many surface听changes that must be made from time to time. But it is my hope that you听remember that with all those changes there are some principles that are听abiding and eternal.7
He then talked about topics we continue to discuss today – – character, honesty, generosity, kindness. He听called these, 鈥渘ot new things but judging by the past they are likely to be of value in the world as long as听the world shall be.鈥�8 As educators, we believe we can make a difference in preparing graduates who will听act with integrity and who will desire to be known by their good character. For it is integrity, character,听energy, imagination, and knowledge – – especially a knowledge of what came earlier – – that provides the听foundation for community progress and individual success in rapidly changing times.
As many of you know, I meet regularly with students and faculty to ask what they hope we never change听and what they wish we had changed last week. Recently, I asked bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 candidates what听they would like to hear today at Commencement. I was impressed and inspired. What these students听want us to preserve, and what they most love, is Adelphi鈥檚 size, personality, and commitment to nurturing听students. They talk of Adelphi as a place where students are known by name, and where faculty want to听be called by name.
Students suggested that I be encouraging about the prospects for jobs, careers, and graduate school, and I听can be. The record of our alumni and the talents you exhibit give me confidence. Others wanted me to听remind you that it is never too late to start anew. One 54-year old Master鈥檚 degree candidate, who听dropped out of high school at age 17 and today aspires for a Ph.D, told me how much she has grown with听her colleagues here – – both the twenty-year-olds and the faculty, some of whom are younger than she is.
Others emphasized that a degree is a milestone on a journey, not an end, and that we are the only ones听who can stand in our way. Still others recounted how they would never, in their home towns, have met听the diversity of nationalities, cultures, ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic status, and belief systems they听encountered at Adelphi. They value diversity, and know sadly that many do not. Their world is now听larger, and they want to play an active role in it.
Most talked about how difficult it will be to leave this place that has become a second, and sometimes听“first,鈥� home. One said she sleeps at her house only twenty minutes away, but 鈥渓ives鈥� on campus. 鈥淢y听friends and I are family,鈥� she said. Another commented, 鈥渁fter my last class I drove around campus in听circles, because I didn鈥檛 want to leave.鈥� Still another said, 鈥淚 feel so comfortable here.鈥�
Students told me about faculty who are both challenging and caring. One quoted an advisor鈥檚 constant听theme, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e never truly successful unless you are happy in what you do.鈥� Each student agreed,听saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 not the same person I was when I entered.鈥� 鈥淚 was never so active as I have been here.鈥� 鈥淚听learned how to be harder on myself, set higher goals, and try again.鈥� One talked about his graduate听student audition at Columbia. Asked to perform a script he had just been given, he 鈥渉eard鈥� his advisor鈥檚听voice on his shoulder saying, 鈥淵ou are not dyslexic today.鈥� He earned admission and will enroll this fall!
Some commented on how Adelphi gave them the chance to assume leadership responsibilities and how听Adelphi brought the world to campus, making it possible to talk in person with U.N. diplomats. Others听commented on their first experience at public speaking, how they were shy but overcame it. They learned听not to give up, not to stand in their own way.
And what do these students aspire to do? Everything! We have graduates today ready to pursue nearly听every profession. They have received great job offers and acceptance letters to major graduate and听advanced professional schools, including Columbia, St. John鈥檚, Michigan, Tufts, Syracuse, NYU, and听Adelphi, among many others.
You are facing a world filled with enormous possibilities as well as momentous challenges, including听continued globalization and the emergence of China and India as modern powers; the elusive goals of听sustainability, equity, and social justice; growth in religious fundamentalism and terrorism; the aging of听populations and challenges to social policies; advances in and opposition to breakthroughs in science and听technology; declining involvement in civic activities such as voting; global climate change; possibilities听for peace; and the blurring of distinctions between fact, faith, and fear.
In 1930, young Nazis at the opening of the Reichstag; famine in China; the 鈥淗indenburg鈥� in flight; the听Great Depression; and Babe Ruth at bat filled the headlines. This was a year bracketed by Prohibition and听gang warfare in Chicago on one side, and Emperor Hirohito in Japan on the other. Yet Adelphi graduates听excelled nevertheless. Today鈥檚 challenges vie for attention with entertainment and personal interests, but听we know we must be engaged in the issues of the day if we are to find fulfillment in our lives.听Opportunities abound now, as they did then, for those with imaginative solutions to enduring problems.
The graduates of 1930 went on to distinguished careers and fulfilling lives. They joined earlier graduates听in education, medicine, publishing, business, law, and public service. The same will be said of you, the听class of 2005.
They, like you, kept asking, what can I learn from this experience, what can I do better, what questions听should I ask? They sought to clarify the difference between what is legal (and illegal), what is moral听(right and wrong), and what is ethical (just and unjust, fair and unfair). They knew, as we know, that听what is legal and moral may be unethical, that character and citizenship – – positive civic engagement – –听are as essential to our institutional and personal priorities as are careers and commerce.
Adelphi is the 鈥渆ngaged鈥� university, and we thank you for your contributions to fulfilling this mission.听We seek engagement by being active as scholars and volunteers in our community, whether as tutors,听letter writers, or activists. Our students have had the opportunity to examine how our society is engaged听in important policy debates while serving as interns and aides with U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, U.S.听Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, State Senator and alumnus Michael Balboni,听Assemblyman Joseph Saladino, and County Controller Howard Weitzman, among many others.
I hope you have gained knowledge, Dr. Blodgett said, and have laid the听foundation for even greater knowledge but even more earnestly I hope that听you have gained those other essentials of a worth while education without听which knowledge regardless of its magnitude cannot be of stupendous听worth.9
We believe, with teacher-author Beverly Conklin, that we can encourage 鈥渙thers to think, to dream, to听learn, to try, to do.鈥�10 We believe that we can help you differentiate between what you want and what you听need, what you look at and what you see. Our goal was not to teach you everything, but to prepare you to听learn anything.
Today, if you leave with nothing else, we hope it is that you have learned how to listen and learn, and听how to use your learning wisely and justly, with empathy and imagination, humility and humor.
Dr. Blodgett concluded his talk as we conclude our ceremony each year. He said,
Come back to see us as often as you can. Keep in touch with the material听development so sure to come on this splendid site. Do your share to bring听the college a reputation which it craves – – the only kind of publicity of听lasting worth – – a record of the accomplishment of worthy deeds.11
Adelphi continues to be a place striving for excellence, made richer everyday by the legacy of the good听deeds of our alumni. I invite you to come by often, witness the developments that surely will take place听on our beautiful campus and extension sites, sustain your networks with classmates and friends, tell us of听your worthy deeds, and advise alma mater just as those who were here before you advise us now.
Finally, send us your stories of goals accomplished and dreams realized, and we, with you, will continue听to build Adelphi鈥檚 future, one story at a time. Congratulations, Class of 2005!
Thank you.
Commencement Address, May 15, 2005.
1听Blodgett, Frank D. Commencement Address, Adelphi College, June 11, 1930. 91吃瓜网.听Archives.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid. Translations and interpetations by Dr. Richard Garner, Dean of the 91吃瓜网 Honors College, and Ryan K.听Scott, Latin Teacher, Briarcliff Manor (N.Y.) High School.
4 Ibid.
5 Hutchins, Robert. Educator. 1954
6 Blodgett, Op.cit.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid.
9 Blodgett, op.cit.
10 Conklin, Beverly. The Language of Teaching. Boulder, Colorado: Blue Mountain Press, 1999, unpaginated.
11 Blodgett, op.cit.
For further information, please contact:
Todd Wilson
Strategic Communications Director听
p 鈥� 516.237.8634
e 鈥� twilson@adelphi.edu