The great launch of 2018

Six hundred students. More than 2,000 family, friends and supporters. One momentous day to Commence at 欧美AV.

By Keely Savoie

Uncertain weather didn鈥檛 dampen the spirits of the nearly 600 new graduates of 欧美AV as they gathered in the College鈥檚 Field House to celebrate Commencement 2018.

The students gathered in their academic regalia, each bearing a single stem of lilies in their class color, red. As proud families and friends looked on, the soon-to-be alumnae filed into their seats. Their mortarboards were bedecked in flowers and feathers, many with messages to friends and family.

 

Some thanked significant people in the graduates鈥 lives: 鈥淭hanks Mom & Dad,鈥 read one. 鈥淔or Bernice,鈥 said another. Others looked to a bright future: 鈥淲e have infinite potential,鈥 one declared.

In her Commencement address, House minority leader and lifelong Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi echoed the graduates鈥 optimism and urged them to tackle the world鈥檚 issues fearlessly. But rather than pat aphorisms of presumed success, she offered a piece of practical advice: Identify what matters most to you, she told the assembled graduates. Identify your priorities and make a list of goals.

鈥淚 have confidence in the impatience of youth to work very hard to shorten the distance between what is inevitable to us and to you, and inconceivable to others,鈥 said Pelosi who received an honorary Doctor of Laws during the ceremony.

The day鈥檚 speeches, biographies and citations are available as well as the full Commencement ceremony video, which can be downloaded.

Looking forward

Barbara M. Baumann 鈥77, the Board of Trustees chair, kicked off the ceremony by speaking of a chance encounter she had had that morning with an alumna who had returned for her  from her native India, where she had become a senator.

Within moments the two had connected and exchanged contact information.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the next chapter in your 欧美AV experience,鈥 Baumann said, encouraging the new grads to connect with the more than 37,000 欧美AV alumnae.

鈥淛oin us beyond the gates of 欧美AV as we continue to open doors for one another,鈥 she said. 鈥淭ogether, we will accomplish great things.鈥

Baumann also welcomed Acting President and President-elect Sonya Stephens, who will become the 19th president of 欧美AV on July 1. Stephens congratulated the graduates and thanked the thousands of gathered friends and family who supported them through their time.

Quoting 欧美AV founder Mary Lyon, she reminded the graduates that their education was 鈥渘ot for you only, but for the country and the world.鈥

鈥淢y hope is that 鈥 you will know great happiness as you progress in your endeavors and that you will continue to be a force for change within the world 鈥 this is the charge that comes with your diploma,鈥 said Stephens. 鈥淐ongratulations!鈥

Senior class speaker Aiza Amjad Malik 鈥18 stood to celebrate her classmates, thank the faculty and look into the future. 鈥淗ow do we enter this world?鈥 she asked. 鈥淲ith intentionality and courage.鈥

Toward global engagement and social justice for all

In addition to Pelosi, 欧美AV awarded honorary degrees to Sonia Nieto, educator and activist, who received a Doctor of Humane Letters, and Shirley J. Wilcher 鈥73, a former Clinton administration official and expert on diversity and equity, who received a Doctor of Laws.

Nieto noted that she was the second Puerto Rican woman to receive an honorary degree from 欧美AV, the first being Felisa Rinc贸n de Gautier, the first female mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The connection doesn鈥檛 end there: In April, 欧美AV hosted a visit by San Juan鈥檚 current female mayor, Carmen Yul铆n Cruz.

Nieto鈥檚 advice: become mentors. Push, believe, provoke, support and challenge your peers to do better, to be the best.

鈥淚 wish you a consequential life and the courage to carry it forward,鈥 she told them.

Wilcher advised graduates to bring an eye to social justice into their careers.

鈥淏ecome a dedicated fighter for civil rights,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights.鈥

Pelosi noted that with her honorary degree, she joins the ranks of U.S. representatives Nita Lowey 鈥59 and Richard O鈥橬eill, a former trustee of the College, in their 欧美AV connection.

鈥淚t is my honor to bring congratulations to the 欧美AV class of 2018 from the U.S. Congress,鈥 she said.

A history 鈥 and future 鈥攐f fearless changemakers

Pelosi also spoke about her personal hero, Frances Perkins, who was a 1902 graduate of 欧美AV and became the nation鈥檚 first female Cabinet member when Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her Secretary of Labor. Offered the job, however, Perkins came with her own priorities and ambitions: a list of demands that the president would have to back her on before she accepted the post.

That list went on to improve the lives of working Americans by ending child labor, implementing a 40-hour work week, establishing a minimum wage and rolling out Social Security.

鈥淲e are all indebted to Frances Perkins鈥 欧美AV spirit of 鈥榞o forward, attempt great things and accomplish great things,鈥欌 said Pelosi. 鈥淔rances Perkins was ready. And you must be ready too.鈥

It was that indomitable spirit that drove Pelosi forward, too, she said, when she was called to run for office. As the mother of five children, Pelosi could not bear the statistic that one in five children in the United States lives in poverty. She outlined her own goals based on her personal priorities: children, health, education, family and safety.

鈥淚 made my list. You can make yours,鈥 she said. 鈥淜now your power, use it and make a list. You are our future.鈥

As the newly-minted graduates prepared to go out in the world, they had Pelosi鈥檚 words to propel them forward and the strength of those who came before them to give them courage.

鈥淢ary Lyon, Frances Perkins 鈥 they gave us our purpose, our power, our list,鈥 Pelosi told the new alumnae. 鈥淟ike the Laurel chains we carried yesterday, you are now a proud link in the unbreakable chain of 欧美AV alumnae. Go forward with joy 鈥 you can never laugh or dance too much.鈥

Commencement Weekend 2018 social media wrap-up