Commencement 2009

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    SCS Students Find Their Balance

    May 16th, 2009, 6:10 pm

    The School of Continuing Studies (SCS) caters to the nontraditional student — those who continue to work full time while pursuing a degree, older adults seeking additional education and well-established professionals looking to expand their skills.

    SCS students, therefore, must work harder to balance their studies with their personal lives. Take Anne Jurgensen (G’09), who earned a master’s degree in public relations and corporate communications. Her son Niels, 2, decked out in a Georgetown baseball hat, plays with her tassel as Anne explains her decision to return to school.

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    Keeping It in the Hoya Family

    May 15th, 2009, 8:54 am

    Many families pride themselves on keeping up the Georgetown legacy; it is not unusual to meet families in which both parents and all of the children are Hoyas.

    The Zagar family of Maplewood, N.J., knows a thing or two about that — dad Fred is a 1968 graduate of the Institute of Languages and Linguistics. He met wife Mary Ann at the Hilltop, where she worked. Two of their three children — new graduate Elizabeth (NHS’09) and Timothy (C’02) — are fellow Hoyas.

    “We’ve watched (Elizabeth) grow in faith, love and independence while she’s been here,” Mary Ann Zagar said. “In this family, it really is ‘Georgetown forever.’ ”

    As a member of the 1968 class, Fred graduated with President Clinton. Being back on the Hilltop reminds him of his years here, including when all of the senior week activities were canceled in the wake of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The class made up for it 25 years later when they rescheduled those same activities at reunion — and this time they got to party at the White House, to boot.

    Also keeping the Georgetown legacy alive is Jared Kramer (MSB’09), a double major in finance and management. His father, Alan Kramer, is a 1974 graduate of the School of Medicine.

    “It’s hard to put into words how I feel today,” Alan Kramer said. “I’m proud of Jared, I’m proud of Georgetown. The university really assisted my son in becoming who he is today by developing his natural talents, fostering his business understanding and helping him facilitate into the working world.”

    Jared’s mom, Anita Kramer, has seen her son take a more active interest in the world, she said.

    “His goals are clearer now, he’s steering himself toward them and he is taking responsibility for his decisions,” she said. “We can thank the university for that.”

    As they depart the Hilltop, Elizabeth Zagar is looking for work in nursing. Jared Kramer is starting a job in the financial services industry.