by Sara Fritz '66, University Trustee
B.S. Denison University
Executive Director of The Faith & Politics Institute
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Denison University, I am pleased to welcome you to Denison's 165th Annual Commencement exercises, concluding the 175th year in the life of the college.
Today you become alumni. You join the distinguished men and women who have gone before you as graduates of this prominent institution. We will honor one of these today with an honorary degree. J. Bradford Tillson, Jr., class of 1966, exemplifies what Denison graduates become when they go out into the world. He has excelled in his chosen field of journalism and has served his community extensively in numerous leadership roles. This combination of achievement and service characterizes Denisonians throughout the years and will characterize the graduates who walk across this platform today.
We will also hear an important and timely message from Dr. Sylvia Hurtado about the role of higher education in preparing people to live and work in an increasingly diverse world. We will be pleased to honor Dr. Hurtado with an honorary degree for her contributions and scholarly work in this area.
This is the day on which we mark the culmination of your academic enterprise over the past four years and look into the future you and others of your generation will create. Perhaps you will even sit upon this platform at some future Commencement, looking out across the field of graduating Denisonians and sending them forth to make their marks on the world. Wherever life takes you, we have no doubt that you will represent your Alma Mater with distinction.
On behalf of all alumni who have served as Trustees through the years, I thank you, Class of 2006, for joining the Denison family. You have allowed Denison to become a part of you, and you have given the college and its community much in return. Congratulations, and welcome to the Society of the Alumni!
It is now my pleasure to call to the lectern the President of Denison University, Dr. Dale T. Knobel, who will lead us in these proceedings.