Family, students and friends packed Alumnae Auditorium at Judson College in Marion on June 26 for the college’s 172nd annual commencement.
Judson President David Potts presided and awarded diplomas to the graduating seniors.
“These young people have demonstrated academic achievement in exemplary ways,” he said, noting the class of 2010 had distinguished itself in and out of the classroom.
“They showed prowess on the athletic fields and, no matter the outcome of the competition, invited the opposing teams to pray with them on the field. And they’ve been involved in service-learning, living the motto of the college — truth and light — in this community.”
Judson alumna and chemist Evelyn Ellis-Grosse served as commencement speaker. A native of Centre and former corporate vice president of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (now a part of Pfizer) in Radner, Pa., she directs e2g Biopharmaceutical Consulting in Marietta, Ga.
Potts bestowed an honorary doctorate on Ellis-Grosse on behalf of the college’s trustees, noting her “extraordinary contributions to science and humanity.”
Ellis-Grosse commended the graduates for their achievement and urged them to have open minds in their further studies and in their lives.
“With an open mind, there will always be a new frontier,” she said.
“When I was at Judson, I never thought about drug research and global development, but I’ve been privileged to visit more than 25 countries and learn about their culture. Travel challenges stereotypes and most preconceptions are wrong.”
Ellis-Grosse urged the graduates to learn from their mistakes and to laugh at them, illustrating with a couple of laboratory mistakes she made at the college.
“You have to fail but your desire to succeed must be greater than your fear of failure,” she said.
“I encourage you to stay current on the passion to learn.”
After conferring degrees, Potts presented the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Non-Student Award to alumna Anne Williamson Shumaker, of Centre, immediate past president of the Judson College Alumnae Association, and the student award to Christina Rae Lee, of Salem.
Tonya Elizabeth Morgan, of Woodville, received the J.C. Faulkner Award, and Kelly Lauren Patton, of Grove Hill, received the Bible Award for outstanding Christian service.
Lee also won the Scholarship Award for having the highest academic average in her class — 3.9 of 4.0.
Religion professor Scott Bullard was awarded the Lula and Alton Holley Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching. (JC)
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