Smiles And Cheers Warm A Chilly Day At UC s First Autumn Commencement

UC’s first Autumn Commencement Ceremony held all of the pomp and circumstance of its traditional spring celebration, but the area’s first significant snowfall signified the season for these graduates who can now look ahead to the holidays.

University of Cincinnati President Nancy L. Zimpher called the graduating class of 2005 to its feet, saying that each of the graduates knew someone who made their success a reality. President Zimpher then called for the crowd of parents, friends and loved ones to stand up and be recognized for their support.

“Class of 2005, whether it was through your incredible hard work or plain luck or lots of both, you are graduating,” she said. “True, you may be trading your Bearcat Campus Card for a corporate expense account and T-shirts and tank tops for suits and heels, but the single biggest difference – the one important life change – you are now UC Alumni.”

She added that the graduates have now joined the ranks of more than 200,000 UC living alumni, including Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory; Earl Hamner, creator of the television show, “The Waltons;” opera singer Kathleen Battle; and Benadryl inventor George Rieveschl.

President Zimpher also said she hoped that during their experience at UC, the graduates had realized the value of lifelong learning. “Learning doesn’t stop as you march down this aisle today,” she said, adding that one of the 2005 graduates was 62 years old. The youngest UC graduate was 18.

The president urged the graduates to use their education to make a difference in the world. Four people were honored at the UC Autumn Commencement Ceremony for making a difference in the lives of four UC students, two of whom were graduating today. UC alum Beverly Eby, Steve Haines, UC alum Bernice Larkin and Crissy Lauterbach received the first University of Cincinnati

Tristate Outstanding Educator Awards

for inspiring a student to achieve his or her college degree. Each of the awardees received a $1,000 UC scholarship to present to a student who is entering UC in the 2006-2007 academic year.

A UC alum addressed the graduates. Dr. Martin A. Samuels, Neurologist-in-Chief and Chairman of the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, delivered his speech titled, “Invasion from Mars, revisited, with commentary by Bobby Burns.”

He took the audience back to the mid 1950s, when the U.S. was at the height of the Cold War, and told a story of invaders from Mars with a telltale electrode at the back of their necks. But he added that the invaders can strike as people cope with their changing lives. “As you leave here today, you will be looking forward, and rightfully so. But as you move forward, find someone, at least one person, to watch for an electrode at the base of your skull,” he said.

“My simple advice to you is to find the one person who will tell you the hard truth about you.” Dr. Samuels received an honorary doctorate degree in science from the university.

After the address, the names of the graduates were announced, and each of them was called to the stage to be personally congratulated by President Zimpher and their college dean. Megan Brown, president of the senior class, delivered closing remarks, saying she hoped that the graduates’ time at UC had led to lifelong friendships.

Jeff Moine of the UC Alumni Association told the graduates that because of their experience at UC, they were better prepared for the real world.

Music for the ceremony was provided by the UC Commencement Band, division of wind studies, College-Conservatory of Music, under the direction of Terence G. Milligan, professor of music. Volunteers representing campus organizations, honoraries and faculty and staff all assisted in procedural arrangements for the ceremony.

Watch the webcast of Commencement.