{"id":914,"date":"2023-09-28T15:10:41","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T19:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/?page_id=914"},"modified":"2023-09-29T08:26:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T12:26:21","slug":"commencement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/fall-2023\/along-the-walk\/commencement\/","title":{"rendered":"Commencement"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Photos by Nick Caito, Joel Callaway<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything we do matters. Every smile, every act of kindness, every time you use your voice for change\u2014these all have meaning and create action and ripple effects that you may not even realize. We were created to make a difference.\u00a0You<\/em>\u00a0were created to make a difference.\u201d These words were offered by Nicole Hockley \u201992, co-founder and CEO of\u00a0Sandy Hook Promise, to the Trinity College Class of 2023 during her\u00a0Commencement address\u00a0on Sunday, May 21.<\/p>\n

In all, 527 students received their degrees during the ceremony held on the Main Quad. Among the undergraduates, 325 received bachelor of arts degrees and 182 received bachelor of science degrees. Six of the undergraduate degree recipients were\u00a0Individualized Degree Program\u00a0(IDP) students. In addition, 20 graduate students received master\u2019s degrees.<\/p>\n

\"Nicole
Nicole Hockley \u201992, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hockley received an\u00a0honorary doctor of humane letters degree\u00a0in recognition of her work at the helm of the national nonprofit organization that educates and empowers youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities.<\/p>\n

When her son Dylan was killed in his first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 alongside 19 of his fellow students and six educators, said Hockley, \u201cMy life changed in ways I hope none of you ever experience. What happened\u2014the murder of my youngest son\u2014was not something I could control. . . . Instead of succumbing to my grief, I chose to channel my sadness, anger, and love into preventing others from sharing my experience. My life\u2019s mission became about creating a safer, better future for young people.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the ceremony, Trinity also awarded an\u00a0honorary doctor of divinity degree\u00a0to Sidnie White Crawford \u201981 in recognition of her distinguished career in higher education and of devoting a lifetime of work to religious studies.<\/p>\n

\"Student
Student Government Association President Jason Farrell Jr. \u201923<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Student Government Association President\u00a0Jason Farrell Jr. \u201923, selected as the student speaker, told his classmates, \u201cWe must appreciate all the moments that led up to this milestone. The times of laughter, enlightenment, joy, and even failure. . . . This is also a time to be excited for new beginnings.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her charge to the graduating class,\u00a0President Joanne Berger-Sweeney said, \u201cA Trinity education is about learning how to speak, how to be heard, and how to listen. It\u2019s about acknowledging and valuing different perspectives. We have taught you how to analyze an issue, not what the conclusion should be.\u201d She added, \u201cDuring our Bicentennial year, we want you to know that you will always be connected to us here at Trinity and to others by shared memories of this magical place \u2019neath the elms.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Salutatorian
Salutatorian Jacob Samuel Wolf Borgida \u201923 and valedictorian Keelyn McNamara \u201923<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Keelyn McNamara, of New Hampshire, who earned a B.A.,\u00a0summa cum laude<\/em>, with honors in interdisciplinary computing with studio arts and a minor in rhetoric, writing, and media studies, was named valedictorian; Jacob Samuel Wolf Borgida, of Minnesota, who earned a B.S.,\u00a0summa cum laude<\/em>, with honors in biology, was named salutatorian.<\/p>\n

Following the awarding of degrees, Trinity College Alumni Association President Jawanza J. Gross \u201994, P\u201912 welcomed the graduates into the community of Trinity alumni. \u201cWe\u2019re cheering for you and are excited for you as the next generation of Bantams,\u201d Gross said. \u201cYou are joining a passionate and engaged alumni community that is eager and willing to help all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more on Commencement, visit https:\/\/trincoll-staging.trincoll.edu\/commencement\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

ACCOLADES<\/h3>\n

Trustee Award for Faculty Excellence<\/strong>: John R. Reitemeyer Professor of Political Science Kevin J. McMahon; Principal Lecturer in the Allan K. Smith Center for Writing and Rhetoric Irene Papoulis;<\/p>\n

\"The
The traditional celebratory cap toss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Staff Excellence<\/strong>: Human Resources Operations Specialist Patricia A. Dinkins; Dean of Community Life and Standards and Interim Director of Campus Safety Robert Lukaskiewicz;<\/p>\n

Student Excellence<\/strong>: Deion Kelly \u201923, Zo\u00eb Camille Sylvester-Chin \u201923;<\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement<\/strong>: Paul D. Assaiante Professor of Physical Education and Associate Director of Athletic Endowment Paul D. Assaiante P\u201906<\/p>\n

The Thomas Church Brownell Prize for Teaching Excellence<\/strong>: Associate Professor of Language and Culture Studies Kifah Hanna; Associate Professor of English Ethan Rutherford<\/p>\n

The Dean Arthur H. Hughes Award for Achievement in Teaching<\/strong>: Assistant Professor of Engineering Clayton Byers; Assistant Professor of Chemistry Lindsey Hanson;\u00a0Assistant Professor of Economics Gerardo Ruiz S\u00e1nchez<\/p>\n

The Charles A. Dana Research Professorship Award<\/strong>: Professor of Engineering\u00a0Joseph L. Palladino<\/p>\n

The Charles A. Dana Research Associate Professorship Award<\/strong>: Associate Professor of Chemistry Cheyenne S. Brindle; Associate Professor of American Studies and English Diana R. Paulin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photos by Nick Caito, Joel Callaway \u201cEverything we do matters. Every smile, every act of kindness, every time you use your voice for change\u2014these all have meaning and create action and ripple effects that you may not even realize. 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