Eisenhower, Mfume Offer Perspective To Class Of 2005

Lorraine K. Polvinale '69, president of the Alumni Association, takes the stage.

Some call the graduates of 2005 the children of September 11, the first to begin college and their course to adulthood steeped in the fears and the unknowns that followed that fateful day. This year's commencement honorees, John Eisenhower and Kweisi Mfume, reminded the Class of the 2005 that while the challenges that they face are new, the anxieties they may have are not. Both encouraged the graduates to never allow fear to rule their lives, mute their voices or crush their ideals.

"At the outset of our freshman year, we woke to the news covering 9/11," said Nicole Alpert, an economics and international studies major from Columbia, MD, who was this year's senior class speaker. "We saw that America is not invincible, but we came together and learned to count our blessings… We must remember that we are the lucky few who are educated and able to speak out for what we believe. Had it not been for those before us, who took on the responsibility to do just that, we would not have the liberties we do today. When people ask, 'Where are the leaders of today?' we must answer, 'We are the ones you are looking for.'" (Her complete remarks can be found on page 44.)

John SD Eisenhower, retired Brigadier General and son of the late General and President Dwight David Eisenhower, continued this theme. Having seen conflict in World War II and in the Korean War, Eisenhower shared his perspective as a historian and former diplomat.

"Today is not the first time in history that other nations have seen us differently from our own view of ourselves," he said. "We have always considered ourselves as a peaceful people. And so we are, individually. But during our brief life as a nation the United States has fought the British, the Mexicans, the Spanish, the Germans, the Italians, the Japanese, the North Koreans, the Chinese, the Filipinos, the Vietnamese, the Native Americans, and now the Arabs. Those people might point out that our national symbol is the eagle, not the dove of peace."

While Eisenhower noted that "the reasons why we have gone to war have rarely been simple," he also observed "truth is the first casualty of any war."

Former head of the NAACP, Kweisi Mfume received the honorary doctor of public service degree.

"You and I are citizens interested in trying to discern the meaning of every day's bulletins. In that effort, you are fortunate. You have received a liberal arts education that has taught you to examine what you hear and read. You are among America's best-educated people. You have the tools for critical analysis. Use them wisely."

Former congressman and head of the NAACP Kweisi Mfume carried Eisenhower's thought, reminding the Class of 2005 of the responsibilities education places on them.

"The light burns bright for Washington College," he said. "You are still a place where dreams have come true and given birth to other dreams of service and academic excellence. From your genesis in a land just after its own revolution, this has served as a place where the teacher and the taught gather together to build a better world. You have been trusted with a mighty vision and you have proven to be worthy stewards."

Mfume urged the graduates to use the knowledge and the wisdom that they have gained to build bridges, seek justice and find truth in the natural diversity of humanity.

"America's greatest strength has been her identity as a group and a collection of different people whose common destiny was always more powerful than their diverse backgrounds or their stations in life," he said. "That is why the people of this country have always made an attempt to communicate across lines of race, across lines of class, of age and religion. The opposite path is one of cynicism, contempt and distrust."

He also cautioned the graduates, immersed in the ever-growing swell of information in the Internet age, to value critical thinking above opinion while tackling the issues of the modern world.

Military historian John Eisenhower received the honorary doctor of letters degree.

"Never let the truth become the victim of expediency," he said. "Too often, what we hear and many times what we are told cause us to hold fast to the conclusions of others, a set of prefabricated set of interpretations, and then we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."

In conclusion, he reminded all that "commencement speeches don't have to be eternal to be unforgettable," to laughter and applause.

"Never let your place be among the timid. Never lose the spirit that first fired your desire to learn. Never fear to risk your political or professional lives in services of those causes that fate has sent you to champion and to win. Go forward from this place emboldened by courage, fired by knowledge, and tempered by wisdom."

In addition to honoring Eisenhower and Mfume, the College recognized Marcia Invernizzi '72 with the Alumni Citation for Excellence. A childhood development expert and Director of the McGuffey Reading Center at the University of Virginia, Invernizzi has devoted her career to understanding how children acquire language, and then providing early childhood teachers with concrete instructional techniques that facilitate that process. The Alumni Association also presented retiring history professor W. Robert Fallaw with its Distinguished Teaching Award.

As is tradition at Washington College, Commencement concluded with the awarding of eight distinguished senior honors and prizes.

The George Washington Medal and Award, given to the senior who, in the judgment of the faculty, shows the greatest promise of understanding and realizing in life and work the ideals of a liberal education, went to biology major Ryan Humphries. Humphries has received a scholarship and stipend from Harvard to pursue a Ph.D. in genetics through the university's department of molecular and cellular biology.

The Clark-Porter Medal, given to the student whose character and personal integrity, in the opinion of the faculty, have most clearly enhanced the quality of campus life, went to Nicole Alpert.

The Sophie Kerr Prize, valued at $53,609 this year, went to a soft-spoken English major from Brooklyn, NY. Claire Tomkin submitted a winning portfolio of short stories. (See page 23 for a sample of her writing).

Accepting the Alumni Citation for Excellence for her work in childhood education, Marcia Invernizzi '72 recalled the powerful influence of her own professors.

The Henry W. C. Catlin 1894 medal, given to a senior man voted by the faculty to be outstanding in the qualities of scholarship, character, leadership and campus citizenship, went to Darrin Michael Brozene, a political science major from Chester, MD.

The Eugene B. Casey Medal, given a senior woman voted by the faculty to be outstanding in the qualities of scholarship, character, leadership and campus citizenship, went to Stacey Pratt, a business management major from Kennett Square, PA.

The Louis L. Goldstein '35 Award, given to a graduating senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, has demonstrated unusual interest, enthusiasm and potential in the field of public affairs, went to Yukiko Omagari.

Two students, Christopher Maurice Hayden and Michael Thomas Ridgaway, were recipients of the Jane Huston Goodfellow Memorial Prize. The award is presented to graduating seniors, majoring in science, who have demonstrated an abiding appreciation of the arts and humanities and have shown scholastic excellence.

The Gold Pentagon Awards, given to a senior and to one alumnus, faculty or friend of the college, selected by Omicron Delta Kappa Society, in recognition of meritorious service to Washington College, were presented to senior Adrienne Nash of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and to Board Chair Jay Griswold. Trustee John Moag '77 accepted on Griswold's behalf.