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| May 2006
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CAMPUS NEWS |
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| Senior Class Celebrates End of One Era, Beginning of Another
More than 700 seniors and their families kicked off commencement weekend by attending the annual senior class toast on May 13, the night before graduation. Held at the Katzen Arts Center this year, seniors and their families mingled over dessert and champagne to celebrate their accomplishments. Midway through the evening, class gift committee Chairs Alyssa Fox, SIS/BA'06, and Geneva Sands-Sadowitz, SIS/BA '06, presented Interim President Neil Kerwin, SPA/BA '71, with a check for $23,614.62 to place directory kiosks in several locations on campus. The next day, graduation caps flew, seniors grinned with pride, parents beamed and wiped tears of joy, and distinguished guests gave their best advice to more than 1,900 graduates in Bender Arena. During the Kogod School of Business and School of Public Affairs commencement ceremony, Kenia Rodriguez was presented with $1,000 and an engraved medal as this year’s recipient of the 2006 President’s Award. This honor is given to one graduating senior who exemplifies the highest ideals of AU and whose accomplishments during his/her undergraduate years are truly exceptional. Originally from Bolivia, Rodriguez was the codirector of the Latino and American Student Organization at AU. She was also treasurer of the international pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta; she mentored local high school students; assisted low-income individuals with their income tax returns; organized service projects; and received magna cum laude degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration, with an International Finance specialization and Justice minor. Former Federal Reserve chair Paul Volcker, now chair of International House and cochair of the Financial Service Volunteer Corps, delivered the Kogod and SPA commencement address at the 4:30 p.m. ceremony. He spoke about “lapses in ethical standards” and corruption in public institutions and the government. “Almost every day we read laws, regulations, and the appropriations process being twisted and distorted in the pursuit of particular policy objectives or special interests,” Volcker said. He told graduates they are entering a world of enormous challenge that requires a recommitment to ethical public service. “We need a strong and renewed sense of values; able to distinguish between what’s really important and what’s not.” Earlier in the morning, the SOC and SIS graduates listened intently as Donald Graham, Washington Post CEO and chair of the board, spoke of Washington history and public service. Graham told graduates that education is a great thing, but many of "the most important qualities in life don’t get handed out with college degrees.” Graham said that being drafted after graduation exposed him to an important aspect of life: giving something back to the world. He encouraged everyone to “draft” themselves into Teach for America, the Peace Corps, or similar callings. Graham ended his address with words of wisdom that ring true for most college students: “Out in the real world, it is considered very bad form to ring the fire alarm at 2 in the morning.”
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by Jeff Watts
He encouraged graduates to be artists by speaking out in a unique voice about the things that matter to them as individuals, and making those things matter to others as well. AU’s Washington College of Law held its commencement ceremony on May 21, with Vanessa Ruiz, associate judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, as the commencement speaker. Congratulations to AU’s newest alumni! -Tara
Shlimowitz '08 |
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