“This is the time that you can best afford to sample all that life has to offer,” William K. Marimow ’69, editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, said to the 585 graduates receiving their degrees at Trinity College’s 190th Commencement on Sunday, May 22.
During his Commencement address, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist told the 536 undergraduates and 49 master’s degree students, “I have three themes today, and they are all interrelated: First, find a mentor at your first job and in all the jobs you ever have. Second, make sure to contribute to the public good. It will enhance the world we live in, and it will enhance your own lives. And, last but not least: Learn to listen. It’s a lost art and an invaluable skill.”
For his accomplishments in journalism and his dedication to Trinity, Marimow was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree. Other honorands were Miriam Colón-Valle, who received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in recognition of her career as a pioneer of Hispanic theater, and Michael P. Conforti ’68, P’16, who received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree for his promotion of the visual arts, arts education, and community involvement with arts institutions.
Graduate Hamdi Hamza Abdi, a biology major from Suwanee, Georgia, who was selected as the student speaker, asked, “Who gets to be Trinity?” She told her classmates, “Getting here was hard. … It matters that you are all here. It matters to me and it matters to you and it matters that we will all stay Trinity.” Her address received a standing ovation from the crowd.
The valedictorian was Jami R. Cogswell of Glastonbury, Connecticut, a Jacob W. Edwards Memorial Scholar and R.C. Knox and Company Scholar. She earned a B.S. summa cum laude with dual majors in mathematics and classical studies, the latter of which she completed with honors. She also minored in Latin. The salutatorian was her twin sister, Darcy J. Cogswell, an Oliver F. Johnson Memorial Scholar and R.C. Knox and Company Scholar. She earned a B.A. summa cum laude with a major in classical studies and a minor in history.
For a video of the Commencement ceremony, please visit the video archive.
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PHOTOS: AL FERREIRA
ACCOLADES
TRUSTEE AWARDS FOR FACULTY, STUDENT, AND STAFF EXCELLENCE
FACULTY:
Craig W. Schneider, Charles A. Dana Professor of Biology
STUDENTS:
Jami R. Cogswell ’16
Julia Rose Duggan ’16
STAFF:
Amy F. Brough, Director of Institutional Support
Laura R. Lockwood, Director of the Women & Gender Resource Action Center (WGRAC)
THE THOMAS CHURCH BROWNELL PRIZE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
John Platoff, Professor of Music
THE ARTHUR H. HUGHES AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Jennifer M. Regan-Lefebvre, Assistant Professor of History