Campuswide Commencement offers insight to grads

By Blake Stubbs
May 5, 2007

Graduates converged on Assembly Hall on Sunday, May 13 to formalize their exodus from the University. Chancellor Richard Herman, President B. Joseph White, and guest commencement speaker and Youtube.com co-founder Jaweb Karem were on hand for the event.

After a long list of awards, Karim, lightened the mood by integrating inspiration and popular culture into his commencement address. Using a Youtube favorite as an example, Karim emphasized the ease and interest of concept developed by internet sensation Matt Harding. Harding, he explained, dances in locations around the world and posts video of it on the popular video site. The address expressed how this was an excellent example of a taking a small but brilliant idea and making it happen.

Awards from this year’s ceremony included:

The Alumni Achievement Award this year was given to Phil Francis, the current C.E.O. of Petsmart, for his work in the expansion of Petsmart.
Guest Commencement Speaker, Jaweb Karim, accepted the Chancellor’s first No Boundaries Award.
A special Chancellor’s Medallion awarded to Professor and Director Emeritus of the Division of Rehabilitation-Education Services, Timothy Nugent for his work in making the campus more accessible.