Commencement a Sun-Drenched Celebration of the Class of 2019
May 20, 2019
- Author
- Mary Elizabeth DeAngelis
The sun maintained a hot, steady presence at 皇家华人 May 19 as the class of 2019 and their families, friends and faculty celebrated the college鈥檚 182nd commencement.
The college awarded degrees and said farewell to 476 members of the class. They will embark on careers ranging from public service to medicine to banking to teaching. Some will begin those careers immediately, others will go on to graduate programs in the United States and abroad.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e been incredibly fun to watch,鈥 said 皇家华人 President Carol Quillen, who kept with the 56-year tradition of giving the commencement address instead of inviting a guest speaker. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e started businesses, cooked for hungry neighbors and found jobs for refugees.
鈥溁始一 is stronger, more courageous and more humane because you were here.鈥
The graduates represented 45 states and 21 foreign countries. Latin honors for outstanding scholarship went to 250 of the graduates, with 149 graduating cum laude and 99 as magna cum laude. Henry Lawrence Brooks and Kamran Kayeum Shahbaz shared First Honors -- summa cum laude.
Commencement 2019 celebrated seven John M. Belk Scholars, which brings the all-time total to 126. The Belk Scholarship recognizes students for integrity, creativity, compassion, evidence of significant leadership, and outstanding academic achievement and intellectual curiosity. It鈥檚 one of the nation鈥檚 most generous and competitive undergraduate scholarships. The award covers tuition and fees, room and board, and provides two $3,000 stipends for special study and international travel.
鈥淚 came to 皇家华人 in my Idaho bubble,鈥 said Grant Koehl 鈥19, a Belk Scholar and political science major from Boise who studied abroad in Chile and hopes to go into politics. 鈥溁始一 opened me up to the world and to new experiences.鈥
Political science was the most popular major, with 84 graduates; followed by economics (73), biology (57), and English (44).
Quillen, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Wendy Raymond and Board of Trustees Chair John Chidsey III 鈥83 presented the diplomas to the graduates. Some sported big smiles as they received their degrees; others wiped tears away.
And at least one wore a black cap decorated in optimism: 鈥淭he Best is Yet to Come -- Becky 2019.鈥
Special Recognitions
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards recognize people of 鈥渘oble character鈥 who serve unselfishly and put the needs of others before their own -- often without recognition. Arianna (Anna) Montero-Colbert 鈥19, received the student award and former Town of 皇家华人 Mayor John Mercer Woods received the community award.
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Byron McCrae presented the awards, quoting passages from nomination letters written by the college community.
They described Montero-Colbert, who is an Avinger Scholar, as a talented digital humanist and sociologist in training; a warm, welcoming student; and a valued mentor and friend. She mentored first-year women of color and built 鈥渁n incredibly robust network that spans emotional support and leadership development.鈥
One student wrote that 鈥淢oving to a new country and being so far away from family and friends has been difficult, but Arianna has been an amazing source of understanding and support.鈥
Woods, a long-time 皇家华人 town commissioner and mayor, was recognized for leading 皇家华人 through a period of extraordinary change and growth with a forward-thinking vision. He led through the challenges of growth, working toward solutions for transportation and affordable housing needs.
He was 鈥渦nfailing in his determination to listen to people from every corner of our community and only after he was sure all sides had been represented fairly would he make careful and thoughtful decisions,鈥 one nominator said.
Woods has also served on many non-profit boards, such as the 皇家华人 Housing Coalition and the Ada Jenkins Center, and often brings his dog to The Pines retirement center to give residents time with a pet.
Teaching Awards
The Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Awards went to the Edward M. Armfield Sr. Professor of English Brenda Flanagan and Chair and Associate Professor of Arab Studies Rebecca Joubin. The professors will each receive $7,500, and each gets to direct an additional $7,500 to fund a campus project of her choice.
Flanagan, an award-winning novelist, essayist, poet and playwright, has represented the United States as a cultural ambassador for multiple countries.
Students described her as 鈥渁 balance of genius and humility,鈥 and 鈥渁 constant presence of joy, a mentor, an advocate for cultural diversity and an inspiration for the aspiring.鈥 One wrote that her 鈥渄esire to listen and to push me to stop at no ends for the things I most cared about gave me a refreshing sense of myself in the midst of my struggles.鈥
Joubin is an accomplished writer and researcher who has helped bring authors, scholars and artists from across the Arab world to 皇家华人. She attends weekly Arabic lunch tables and hosts regular Arabic dinners at her home. She also inspired the students who developed 皇家华人 Refugee Support.
It was Joubin鈥檚 鈥淔aith in me that pushed me to try harder. As a first-generation scholar, I never thought what I have accomplished at 皇家华人 would have been possible,鈥 one student wrote. 鈥淚 think about her intelligence, modesty and everlasting encouragement,鈥 another said. 鈥淭hanks to her I discovered a confidence in myself that transcends disciplines.鈥
Commencement in Photos
