NEW LONDON, CT (05/27/2014)(readMedia)– The following local residents were awarded a bachelor of arts degree from Connecticut College at the 96th commencement ceremony on May 18.
Ian Rathkey of Old Lyme graduated cum laude with a major in East Asian studies.
Nathan Roy of Essex graduated cum laude with a major in government.
Hilary Sullivan of East Lyme graduated cum laude with a major in human development.
Prince Ilboudo of New London graduated magna cum laude with a major in international relations and economics.
Jordan Bishop of New London graduated magna cum laude with a major in environmental studies.
Molly Shimko of New London graduated magna cum laude with a major in theater.
Emil Lalov of New London graduated summa cum laude with a major in mathematics and economics.
Yumi Kovic of Norwich graduated summa cum laude with a major in ACS certified-chemistry and biochemistry.
Commencement Keynote Speaker Noah Feldman told the 461 members of the Class of 2014 that while today’s moment of celebration was wonderful, the real gift they had been given was four years of preparation for the rest of their lives.
“The whole point of the liberal arts education – that fragile, extraordinary, valuable thing which is being put in your hands and has been put in your hands – is to teach you to participate as full partners in the making of the world around you,” said Feldman, the Bemis Professor of International Law at Harvard Law School. “And that by definition can only happen through your taking up the stuff and the substance of your future lives and shaping it and making it your own.”
Prior to his speech, Feldman was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters by Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron.
Bergeron, who joined Connecticut College Jan. 1 and was inaugurated April 5, told the Class of 2014 they are part of a proud lineage of graduates who have done exactly what Feldman urged them to do: Used what they learned at Connecticut College to positively change the world.
About Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private, highly selective liberal arts college with 1,850 students and more than 40 majors in the arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities, as well as the option for students to self-design majors. The College offers a high level of intellectual challenge, a campus culture that supports students to tailor their educational experience to their own interests and goals, and a four-year career development program that teaches students how to translate a liberal arts degree into a first job or graduate school admission. Connecticut College is situated in the small New England seaport of New London. For more information, visit www.connecticutcollege.edu.