Summer 2010 - The Green Issue - 10

C o m m e n C e m e n t 2 0 10

UNDERGRADUATE

Clockwise from top: President Volpe, Funk, Holmes

Excitement was in the air as members of one of the largest classes in the College’s 117-year history received their bachelor’s degrees May 22.

To view photos from undergraduate commencement, visit www.hood.edu/commencementphotos

President Ronald J. Volpe presented bachelor of arts and science degrees to 302 seniors at the 10 a.m. ceremony that was attended by more than 2,000 faculty, staff, friends and family members. This year’s graduates—214 women and 88 men—hailed from 15 states, the District of Columbia and 12 countries. Forty-four students began their studies at Hood when they were 23 years or older; 143 transferred to Hood from other two- or four-year colleges; nine studied abroad in Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, England, Italy, New Zealand and South Korea; and 99 completed internships at an array of regional, national and international organizations and businesses. Twenty graduating seniors were legacy students—they join one or more of their family members as Hood alumni—including Rachel McCutcheon, whose sister and three brothers are Hood graduates, and Lisa Wells, whose two sisters were members of the classes of 2002 and 2004. Diana Keely, an economics and mathematics major from Hagerstown, Md., and Charity Smith, a psychology major from Westminster, Md., were awarded the Hood College Academic Achievement Prize for the highest academic records in the Class of 2010. President Volpe called upon the graduates to maintain high standards, “for ultimately your character will be your greatest possession … and character takes a lifetime to build.” He counseled them to “remember life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and you have the right stuff to land that prized position for which you worked so hard.” Commencement speaker David J. Holmes Jr., Ph.D., Walter G. Mason Professor of Religious Studies at The College of William & Mary, encouraged the graduates to settle for nothing less than what truly makes them happy, regardless of the expectations of family, peers or society. Citing John Wesley, the Anglican cleric and Christian theologian credited with founding the English Methodist movement, and the character George Babbitt from the novel “Babbitt” by Sinclair Lewis, Holmes invited the group to take the time to determine what it is they want to do and, upon discovering that, work diligently to achieve those goals. President Volpe presented an honorary degree to Robert N. Funk, Ph.D., who retired June 30 after a 10-year tenure at Hood. “His loyalty, commitment, competence and quiet leadership have benefited those faculty, students and staff who have had the privilege to know and work with him,” said Volpe in his tribute to Funk. “Though Bob has held many administrative appointments at a number of different institutions, we at Hood will always claim him as our own. I will miss his wise counsel, his thoughtful deliberation, his steady hand and, of course, his keen sense of humor.” Holmes was awarded an honorary doctoral degree for his lifelong contributions and commitment to learning for the betterment of the individual and society, and to the development of human character.

Summer 2010 - The Green Issue

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