Williams College Celebrates 219th Commencement
Williams College President Morton Owen Schapiro conferred bachelor’s degrees on 510 seniors at Commencement, Sunday, June 1, 2008. Eleven students in the Program in the History of Art and 24 fellows from the Center for Development Economics received master’s degrees.
World-renowned sculptor Richard Serra delivered the Commencement Address. Three graduating seniors also spoke. Zachary Thomas, a physics and economics major from Pelham, NY, delivered the Valedictory Address; Erika Williams, a biology major from Fairport, NY, was the Phi Beta Kappa speaker; and Gordon Phillips, an economics and mathematics major from McLean, VA, was chosen by his classmates as Class Speaker.
In addition to Serra, President Schapiro conferred honorary degrees to financial director and advisor Robert Lipp, British economist Frances Cairncross, women's health advocate Dr. Nawal Nour, and former Secretary of State George Shultz.
Kai Lee, Rosenburg Professor of Environmental Studies, was granted emeritus status.
The Speeches
- Robert Lipp, Baccalaureate Address, “Don’t Make a Living, Make a Life!”
- Richard Serra, Commencement Address, “If Not Now, When?”
- Gordon Phillips, Class Speaker, “Good Morning”
- Erika Williams, Phi Beta Kappa Speaker, “Get a Machete”
- Zachary Thomas, Valedictorian, “The Liberal Arts After Williams”
Honorary Degree Citations
- Frances Cairncross, Doctor of Laws
- Robert Lipp, Class of 1960, Doctor of Laws
- Nawal Nour, Doctor of Science
- Richard Serra, Doctor of Fine Arts
- George Shultz, Doctor of Laws
Williams News Releases
- May 1, 2008 Williams announces Commencement speakers and Honorary Degree candidates
- May 22, 2008 Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz to have structured conversation with political scientist James McAllister
- May 28, 2008 Seniors choose high school teachers for Olmsted Teaching Awards
- May 30, 2008 Sustainability: From First-Years to Graduates
- June 1, 2008 Williams Celebrates 219th Commencement
- June 1, 2008 Williams Awards 24 International Students Master's in Developmental Economics
- June 1, 2008 Williams Awards Eleven Master's in Art History Degrees
- June 1, 2008 Williams Elects 38 Seniors to Phi Beta Kappa
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