A Commencement for the Ages

Franklin & Marshall College’s 2009 Commencement was held Saturday, May 16, under threatening skies.

Though wind in the microphones was sometimes mistaken for thunder and the clouds parted only once to reveal the sun, it did not rain, and good humor prevailed.

Former Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell  set the upbeat tone with his assertion that it wouldn’t rain because, “I’m here. Trust me.”

A retired four-star general who held myriad command and staff positions during his 35 years of service, Powell received a Doctor of Humane Letters and delivered the Commencement address to 535 seniors and their families. His speech poked fun at his own college education at City College of New York, an experience that he said was less than accomplished. “It took me 4½ years, two changes of major and straight As in ROTC for four years to raise my average to 2.0, the minimum needed to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission. The faculty was relieved to be rid of me and hoped that I would make it in the Army.”

Powell went on to explain that he ultimately succeeded in life because he found what he did well and loved doing: soldiering. He urged all graduates to find their own purpose in life, which he said is the source of true happiness and success. He described the feeling as a “sense of personal satisfaction of knowing that you are doing something of value for society; that you are serving others; that you feel good about yourself.”

Noting that the other Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters recipients that day had also found a sense of purpose in helping others, Powell recounted their achievements. Deborah Bial, president and founder of the Posse Foundation, recognized there is no greater obligation to society than to educate the next generation; Myles Brand, president of the NCAA, had the moral courage to stand by his unpopular demand for academic rigor in student-athletes; Thomas G. Phillips III ’54, civic leader, gave back to Franklin & Marshall, the community that had given him so much; and Richard D. Winters ’41, the Band of Brothers World War II commander, demonstrated that he was willing to die for his country and the men under his command.

“These honorees reflect what we expect from each of you,” Powell told the graduates. Whatever your purpose in life, he continued, use your “time, talent and treasure” in service to others.

The son of Jamaican immigrants, Powell saw the barriers of segregation fall away. He was able to rise to the top of his profession on the basis of performance, not race, and to see America elect a president who happened to be black.

The world today, he continued, is “driven more by economic, energy and environmental issues than worries about world wars. Yet, it is a world struggling with poverty, human rights, disease and despotism. [It is] a world of challenges and continuing dangers, but a world of promise and opportunity.”

Powell urged the graduates to “Go forth to take your place and perform your duty and serve the nation with your purpose…Let your dreams be your only limitations…We are counting on you.”

In his remarks, President John Fry also noted the graduates were entering “a world that is in great need of your help.” To succeed, he continued, “Live by the values of a Franklin & Marshall education in your dealings with others and in your relationship with yourself.” Fry advised the graduates to seek knowledge wherever the trail may lead, to respect and empathize with others and, above all, to apply what they learn for the benefit of humankind.

Aditi Malik ‘09, this year’s recipient of the Williamson Medal, the most prestigious student award, echoed in her speech the importance of finding purpose in life and a call of service. Malik, who came to Franklin & Marshall from New Delhi, India, noted the impact that her international perspective had on her liberal arts studies. After four years of college, Malik realized that taking time to study and understand another person’s point of view “is needed to foster a world in which human wrongs are transformed into human rights.” She urged her classmates to continue on their journey to find “that spark that has ignited a fire within us, that has given us the belief, indeed, the assurance, that we can make a difference.”

Among the students graduating on Saturday were Franklin & Marshall’s first graduating class of Posse Scholars, who received some of the loudest cheers from the audience. Through the Posse Foundation, students from New York City's public high schools formed a socio-economically diverse team, or “posse,” on campus to support and encourage one another during their time at Franklin & Marshall. That afternoon the eight Posse Scholars were honored by Bial and other representatives of the Posse Foundation, by President Fry, by Dean of the College Kent Trachte, by their mentors and by their families. All spoke of the transformative nature of the Franklin & Marshall education on the students and all who surround them, and on the students at the College.

Eight seniors could not attend Saturday’s ceremony because of the women’s lacrosse championship playoffs. After helping F&M win its second NCAA Division III National Championship in three years Sunday, those eight players received diplomas from President Fry, who drove to Virginia with Dean Trachte to watch the game.

This year’s recipient of the Bradley R. Dewey Award for Outstanding Scholarship was Kerry H. Whiteside, Clair R. McCollough Professor of Government. It is the highest award for faculty scholarship and recognizes the faculty member who best exemplifies “the ideal of the scholar whose research efforts reflect and inspire excellence and enlighten teaching.”

For his dedicated and tireless support of student-faculty collaboration, Associate Professor of Biology and Department Chair Robert N. Jinks received the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Marty McGrath received the Richard Kneedler Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes a member of the professional staff who consistently goes “above and beyond” his or her job duties.

Retiring faculty member Jay Martin Anderson, Richard S. and Ann B. Barshinger Professor of Computer Science, received a Socrates citation.

The graduating class included 12 Summa Cum Laude, 52 Magna Cum Laude and 78 Cum Laude honorees. In addition, 29 students earned Departmental Honors, which were attained by completing a major research project, writing a paper and successfully defending it.

View a brief slide show and online video of commencement now.  Gen. Powell's speech is available also as streaming video from the Alumni gateway page.