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The UMW Eagle Pipe Band performed before the commencement ceremony yesterday in Ball Circle.
University of Mary Washington graduates prepare for commencement yesterday. The rain held off until halfway through the ceremony. |
By KIM BAER
John Warner gave what will likely be his last commencement address as a U.S. senator to University of Mary Washington graduates yesterday morning.
The retiring senator urged the graduates to take care of the environment, get involved in public service and cherish the friendships they have developed.
A steady rain began to fall about halfway through Warner's talk to the university's 1,217 graduates.
Many of the graduates--and their friends and family in attendance--pulled out umbrellas.
Warner, 81, is finishing his fifth term in the Senate.
He is known for his key role in the removal of the Rappahannock River's Embrey Dam in 2004.
Fifty years ago, he said, few gave the environment a second thought.
"We were oblivious," he said.
The Republican senator encouraged the graduates to put their minds to saving the environment.
The country has to take steps to deal with climate change, he said.
"We cannot wait."
He expects a "historic debate" about the issue in the Senate this summer. He and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., have sponsored a bill to reduce U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions.
Warner asked the graduates to get involved in civic life.
"Return to your community what you've been given."
He advised them to remember those who helped them along the way.
"Always look back and be grateful."
Warner ended by talking about his upcoming retirement.
He said he talked it over with his wife and family. A quote from Thomas Jefferson helped him make up his mind:
"There is a fullness of time when men should go, and not occupy too long the ground to which others have the right to advance."
He expressed confidence that leaders were among yesterday's graduates.
The Class of 2008 mostly echoed Warner's positive outlook.
Matthew Long, 22, of Alexandria earned a history degree and plans to attend law school. He had mixed feelings about about graduation.
"It went by way too quickly, it seems like," he said. "But I'm glad to move on to bigger and better things."
Jennifer Beasley, 29, said her fears about the future were finally giving way to excitement.
Beasley earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. She plans to spend some time with her 86-year-old grandfather, then look for a job.
Her mom, Jeri Beasley, who was standing nearby, added that her daughter's graduation made her Mother's Day weekend.
"I am so proud I could pop."
Kim Baer: 540/368-5028
Email: kbaer@freelancestar.com
The following University of Mary Washington students were recognized at today’s commencement ceremony for outstanding accomplishments during their senior year:
Katie Lynn Kosack of Baltimore, Md., the Glen R. Thomas Award for highest GPA in American Studies and the Historic Preservation Achievement Award for the highest grade-point average among historic preservation students;
Amy Leigh Garrett of Ringgold, Rebecca Rose Henderson of Glenside, Pa., and Jennifer Anne Stout of Midlothian, Departmental Honors in Anthropology;
Clara Katheryn Williams of Natural Bridge, Art Department Award in Photography; Kathleen M. Kaelin of Burke, Art Department Award in Printmaking;
Elizabeth C. Wilkins of Lexington, Art Department Award in Sculpture; Robert Wood Lynn of Warrenton, the Melchers Gray Purchase Award and Departmental Honors in Studio Art;
Dana L. Byrd of Hagerstown, Md., Jennifer Morgan Davis of Virginia Beach, Kerry Lynn Gavaghan of Newtown, Pa., and Rebecca Pia Kraushaar of Springfield, Departmental Honors in Art History;
Erin Elizabeth Richardson of Powhatan, Departmental Honors in Studio Art;
Sarah Lepore Stone of Ocala, Fla,, the William A. Castle Award for the Outstanding Biology Major and Departmental Honors in Biology;
Christine Anne Chapman of Alexandria, Danielle Elizabeth Neal of Nokesville and Benjamin J. Smith of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Departmental Honors in Biology;
Molly Guthrie Hendricks of Tappahannock, the Outstanding Senior in Business Administration Award and Departmental Honors in Business Administration;
Amanda Renee Macdonald of Locust Grove, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants Award; Kathryne J. Presto of Fredericksburg, the Patricia Lacey Metzger Memorial Award in Accounting;
Krishna Kant Sinha of McLean, Departmental Honors in Business Administration; Rebecca E. Funkhouser of Valparaiso, Ind., the American Institute of Chemists Award;
Amy Kristin Carfagno of Springfield, the American Chemical Society Outstanding Chemistry Major;
Erin Morgan Douglass of Chesapeake, the Laura V. Sumner Award in Classics and Departmental Honors in Classics; Midori Elizabeth Azuma Hartman of Camden, Del., the Laura V. Sumner Award in Classics, the Outstanding Graduate in Classics award for superior academic achievement in classics and service to the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion, the Barbara Leigh Gregg Prize in Greek and Departmental Honors in Classics;
Alicia Mi Haynes of Virginia Beach, Departmental Honors in Classics;
Andrew Charles Federspiel of Robinsville, N.J., Eric Holscher of Virginia Beach, Michael Gregory Leon of Woodbridge, Joel David Peck of Fredericksburg, Ryan Anthony P. Rillo of Virginia Beach, Departmental Honors in Computer Science;
Juliette Niebuhr Zerick of Spotsylvania, Departmental Honors in Computer Science and Departmental Honors in Mathematics; James Richard Fowler, Adam Smith Award for Graduate Study in Economics;
Dana C. Capps of Boise, Idaho, the Henry W. Heweston Economics Award for academic excellence and service to the Department of Economics;
Julia M. Behrmann of Reston, the Isaac Knowles of Manassas, Brandon A. Shapiro of Fairfax Station and William Swanson of Vienna, Departmental Honors in Economics;
Kristin Leigh Snyder of Springfield, the Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 Virginia Educator Award; Christine M. Chiodo of Bordertown, N.J., Outstanding Education Student;
Courtney McAllister of Fredericksburg, the Carlton R. Lutterbie, Jr. Award for the Outstanding English Major for academic performance, distinctive achievements and service to the Department of English, Linguistics, and Speech, and Departmental Honors in English;
Raymond Tyler Babbie of Stafford, Elizabeth Justine Baldys of South Williamsport, Pa.,
Elizabeth D. Ball of Bristow, Mark Donahue of Fredericksburg, Rachel Elizabeth Fuhrken of Fredericksburg, Rebecca Rose Henderson of Glenside, Pa., Erin Rebecca Leach-Kemon of Middleburg, Gwynne Erin Mapes of Freeville, N.Y., Ashley Lauren McNabb of Fredericksburg, Frances M. Montemayor of Dumfries, Kathleen Mary Pacious of McLean, Shawna M. Peruzzi of Fredericksburg, Alison Catherine Sweet of Fredericksburg and William Lewis Williams of Culpeper, Departmental Honors in English;
Shelby Danielle Zelonis of Purcellville, the Meriwether Lewis and William Clark Award in Geography and the Harold Thompson Straw award in Geography; Colleen Earp of Toms River, N.J., the National Council for Geographic Education Excellence for Scholarship Award;
Kelly R. McCauley of Finksburg, Md., the Grace Wadsworth Award in Historic Preservation for the student with professional promise and potential to make a significant contribution to historic preservation;
Katherine E. Egner of Springfield, Ohio, the Governor Alexander Spotswood Award in Historic Archaeology in recognition of professional promise and potential in historical archaeology;
Carol Delores Roth of Stafford, the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. Award in Honor of Prince B. Woodard for superior academic achievement and making a significant contribution to historic preservation efforts in the Fredericksburg region;
James William Colin Biddle of Richmond, the Almont Lindsey Award for Excellence in History for academic achievement and service to the Department of History and American Studies;
Justin C. Simeone of Tolland, Mass., the Phi Alpha Theta Award for Highest GPA in History, the Ann Elizabeth Fitschen Memorial Political Science Award and Departmental Honors in History;
Andrea Meyer of Scotch Plains, N.J., the Willie Lee Rose Award for Academic Excellence in History; Thomas Andrew Openchowski of Bethesda, Md., Departmental Honors in International Affairs;
Elizabeth Ann Liskom of North Windham, Conn., the Oscar Schultz Award in Mathematics and Departmental Honors in Mathematics;
Roberto Palomba of New York, N.Y., Departmental Honors in Mathematics;
Shannon Treacy Triola of Fredericksburg, the Anne and Sidney Hamer Music Award for the highest grade-point average among senior music majors;
Jeffrey D. Zeiders of Woodbridge, the Mu Phi Epsilon Sterling Achievement Award in Music and the Mu Phi Epsilon Outstanding Senior Award in Music;
Jeremy Reid Cooper of King George, the Music Teachers National Association Student Achievement Recognition Award for a graduating senior with outstanding potential as a studio music teacher;
Lewis William Kopenhafer of Williamsburg, the Outstanding Graduate in Philosophy and Department Honors in Philosophy; Karen Marie Rohrer of Richmond, the Outstanding Graduate in Religion for superior academic achievement in religion and service to the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion, and Departmental Honors in Religion; William R. Hawk of Harrisonburg, William Swanson of Vienna and Ross Marshall Wood of Norfolk, Departmental Honors in Philosophy;
Katharine Beatrice Mulrey of Merrimack, N.J., the Physics Faculty Award, Departmental Honors in Physics and Departmental Honors in Mathematics; Megan Kate Vaughan-Albert of Middletown, Conn., the Ann Elizabeth Fitschen Memorial Political Science Award and Departmental Honors in International Affairs; Stephen Raymond Gregg III of Warren, N.J., and Amanda Jane Sustak of Princeton, N.J., Departmental Honors in Political Science;
Sarah Katherine Nelson of Bristol, the Outstanding Senior Psychology Major Award for academic excellence, participation and leadership in department activities and professionalism in the discipline, and Departmental Honors in Psychology;
Sabrina Faye Askari of Falls Church, Sarah J. Axelson of Long Beach, N.Y., Kirsten E. Jimerson of Darnestown, Md., and Whitney Erin Rife of Ewing, N.J., Departmental Honors in Psychology;
Karen Marie Rohrer of Richmond, the Outstanding Graduate in Religion and Departmental Honors in Religion; Kathryn Michelle Elvey of Blacksburg and Marlysa Arlene Lohr of Strasburg, Departmental Honors in Religion;
Philip Michael Arnone of Chantilly, Departmental Honors in Sociology;
David Ryan Spry of Virginia Beach, the Robert E. Ingham Award in Theatre for excellence in theatre and exemplary service to the Department of Theatre and Dance, and Departmental Honors in Theatre;
Constance Layton Heartwell Kuchinski of Fredericksburg, Sommer Lynn Long of Ashburn, Caitlin Blythe Lucia of Charlottesville, Diane Pilar Rogers of Centreville and Deniz Soyer of Alexandria, Departmental Honors in Theatre;
Jennifer Anne Stout of Midlothian, the Ruby York Weinbrecht Award for Outstanding Senior Library Assistant.
