56th Annual Commencement

The College's 56th annual commencement ceremonies, Sunday, May 18 in Badgley Garden, featured remarks from guest speaker Ambassador Dennis Ross, who urged for the 288 members of the Class of 2003, "passion beyond yourselves, belief in something other than yourselves, no matter which career you choose."
Ross is director and Ziegler Distinguished Fellow of The Washington Institute for Middle East Policy and served as Middle East envoy in the first Bush and Clinton administrations. He called on the graduates to extend themselves beyond Descartes', "I think, therefore, I am," to instead lead lives of meaning and purpose. "What I hope for you all," he said, "is that you trulyexist."
President Pamela Gann asked the hundreds of parents to stand and be recognized, thanking them for personal diligence in their children's educations. Gann became president of CMC in 1999, the same year the Class of 2003 entered the College. After commenting upon their experiences of the last four years, she charged the graduates to share their education with the greater community.
Professor Marc Massoud, recipient of the Glenn R. Huntoon Award for Superior Teaching, served as faculty marshall, and Leshya Wig, valedictorian, was student marshal. The Rev. Catharine Grier Carlson, chaplain of The Claremont Colleges, led the invocation. The Latin salutation, Day of Silver, was delivered by graduating seniors Ian Hopper and Nicholas Snow. William Ascher, vice president and dean of the faculty, presented candidates for the awarding of degrees, which were awarded by President Gann and presented by Peter Barker '70, chair of the Board of Trustees. The ceremonies closed with the Benediction by Trista Wendell '03.