(The President’s Letter, June 2013)
Who
could have asked for a more beautiful Commencement Weekend this year at Bethany
College?
With
154 members of the Class of 2013 assembled with their families and friends on
May 18 at the Tilock Amphitheatre in the Pennington Quadrangle, the sun shone
bright along with the prospects for these new alumni. Following an inspiring
and very well-received Baccalaureate sermon the evening before by the Rev. Dr.
Jack Sullivan, Jr., Regional Minister and President of the Pennsylvania Region
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), on Saturday morning our
graduating seniors were convened for the last time.
Our
Commencement address this year, “Times of Change Are Times of Opportunity,” was
delivered by Ralph Baxter, Chairman Emeritus of Orrick, Herrington &
Sutcliffe LLP.
“I
believe that you are graduating at the most dynamic time in the history of human
kind,” Mr. Baxter told the graduates. “The world is changing faster today than
it ever has. The change in the world is pervasive, it is universal, and it will
create opportunities for all of you in your lifetimes.”
For
their special contributions to Commencement 2013, we presented honorary
doctorates to both Jack Sullivan and Ralph Baxter. As with many of our
distinguished and perceptive guests over the years, they summed up the tone and
tenor of our time, with all of its anxiety-producing impact, but suggested that
our graduating seniors discover for themselves the special purpose of their
lives and the resulting pathways to personal fulfillment through social
responsibility.
This
is the spirit that unites Bethanians across the generations—the willingness to
do the right thing for the benefit of others. In my own comments to the Class
of 2013, I acknowledged that we live in challenging times. Their generation, I
reminded them, “is called to address worldwide
strife;
to rebuild our nation’s roads and bridges; to preserve our fragile environment;
to explore further sources of renewable energy; to foster innovation and
economic growth.”
“It’s
a tall order,” I concluded, “but generations of Bethanians before you have left
these halls to accomplish all these goals and more.”
Recognition
of two outstanding graduates during this year’s Alumni Weekend confirmed this
tradition.
Justice
Kaye Gorenflo Hearn, Class of 1972, was honored with the Alumni Achievement
Award. Elected to the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2009, she is only the
second woman on the state’s highest court. After graduating fifth in her class
from Bethany, she went on to graduate cum laude from the University of South
Carolina School of Law and later, she earned an L.L.M. degree from the
University of Virginia’s Graduate Program for Judges. We were happy to welcome
Justice Hearn, our Darline Nicholson Breakfast speaker two years ago,
back to Bethany to receive this latest honor from her alma mater.
Jeff Flick, Class of 1982,
president and CEO of BD&E in Pittsburgh, was the recipient of the 2013
Alumnus of the Year Award. Jeff has worked in the marketing communications
field for the past 30 years. He has been the project manager for comprehensive
branding, identity and marketing communications programs for a variety of
publicly-traded corporations. His clients include Bethany College, for whom he
has produced many of our marketing and branding campaigns and materials. Most
recently, his firm designed the uniforms for Bethany’s new marching band, The Stampede,
which will debut this fall at Bison Stadium.
Bethanians make their mark in
numerous ways, and we are proud of all who have enriched our world with their
talents and generosity. I am confident that the Class of 2013 will be no less engaged
and influential in their world.
As we conclude another
outstanding academic year, we pause to thank everyone who has brought our
newest Bethany alumni to this important milestone: the devoted faculty and
staff on campus who have mentored them; the parents, families, friends, and
classmates who have stood behind them; and the alumni of the College who are
generous with their time, counsel, and career connections.
To the Class of 2013,
congratulations, and to all Bethanians everywhere, thank you for your support
and continuing engagement with A Small College of National Distinction.
