Gwen Ifill’s Commencement Speech (as prepared for delivery 5/16/09)

[Watch video of Gwen Ifill's remarks]

Thank you President De Gioia, and good afternoon Hoyas.

What a lovely way to end a year in which I have witnessed the election of the first African American President; moderated a Vice Presidential debate, and managed to be mocked by both Sarah Palin and Queen Latifah.

It doesn’t get better than that.

I am so honored to be here. So honored, in fact, that I plan to adhere to the three lessons of delivering a perfect commencement speech…

1.    Keep it brief. No one came here to see me. They came to see you.
2.    Keep it upbeat. With the economy and the job market many of you are facing… there is enough to worry about without me adding to your load.
3.    And a speaker must remember her audience. The only people happier today than the class of 2009, are your parents and loved ones… the folks who’ve been carrying the weight of expense, worry and pride on your behalf throughout your college careers.
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Under uncertain skies, Georgetown College Dean Chester Gillis welcomed a crowd that filled Healy Lawn to Georgetown College’s 210th commencement exercises.

“This is my first commencement as dean of the College and my first ceremonial decision was to hold this commencement outdoors,” said Gillis, who officially became dean in April. “As I weighed this decision I was reminded of a line from the film “Enemy of the State,” in which actor Gene Hackman says to Will Smith’s character, ‘You’re either incredibly smart or incredibly stupid.’ ”

Gillis’ spot-on forecast kept the graduates, faculty and their friends and family dry — throughout the ceremony, at least.

After the laughter subsided, Gillis continued, “Making this decision, I considered the tradition of graduating on Healy Lawn which all of you have looked forward to; the fact that the entire class graduates together and that all of our guests can be accommodated at one ceremony. After all, we are Georgetown.”

Commencement exercises for Georgetown College will be held as planned today on Healy Lawn at 3 p.m.

Business professor Ilkka Ronkainen receives the Academic Council Professor of the Year Student Choice Award during Friday afternoon's MSB tropaia ceremony.

The word “tropaia” is ancient Greek and refers to a monument constructed to celebrate a military victory. Today, trophies awarded for excellence may draw close comparisons to the ancient structures. Each year students, faculty and some alumni are recognized for their academic excellence and outstanding achievement during the tropaia ceremonies. Read Full Story.

Graduating language and linguistics majors jumped to their feet and showered Italian Department Chair Serafina Hager with applause as she received the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics (FLL) Lifetime Achievement Award.

Presented during the FLL tropaia ceremony, the award recognized Hager for her outstanding work on behalf of the students, faculty and staff of the FLL. Hager will retire at the end of the year after more than three decades of service to the university.

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John Pfordresher, a 1965 Georgetown graduate, began teaching at the university in 1973. Through those years, he has touched the lives of countless students, and this year the College awarded him the Edward B. Bunn Award for Faculty Excellence.

The award, given annually to a member of the College faculty who — in the estimation of the senior class and the student council — is admired and respected by all students for service to Georgetown.
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Greetings and congratulatory phrases from around the world rang through the Bunn Intercultural Center Auditorium during this morning’s Faculty of Languages and Linguistics (FLL) tropaia ceremony. Graduating seniors and their families celebrated as honors were bestowed upon some of FLL’s brightest academic stars. The awards included:

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Each year, Georgetown College recognizes graduating students who excel in the classroom. The following students received awards from the College for exemplary academic achievements:

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