74 th Commencement Ceremony May 8, 2021 Dedicated to the Classes of 2020 and 2021 The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key Oh, say, can you see? By the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming; Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there: Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave? O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Welcome Opening Procession Program Bagpiper I. Welcome and introductions of the VIII. Conferring of Honorary Degree Eric Goodchild President, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Wes Moore Faculty, Staff and Graduates Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa Faculty Marshals Dr. Wayne Lesperance Glenn Stuart, MA and Cynthia Burns Martin, MBA Provost IX. Commencement Address Mr. Wes Moore The Faculty of New England College II. Singing of the National Anthem Alexandra Buciak, student X. Conferring of Degrees Doctoral, Graduate, and Undergraduate Doctoral Students Chelsea Hanrahan, Professor/Director of Danforth Library Programs Graduate and Professional Studies Students Kaitlyn Harte, Assistant to the Provost Maria Jacobs, Contract Coordinator XI. Switching of Tassels and Closing Undergraduate Student Marshalls III. Recognition of Veterans XII. Singing of the Alma Mater Song Art and Design | Luke Davis, Andrew Nason Dow, Sr. Alexandra Buciak, student Dr. Wayne Lesperance Humanities | Matthew Norman McFall, Magnolia E. Mulqueen Professor/Director of Provost Chelsea Hanrahan, Management | Mariana Lassonde, Frankie R. Mayo Danforth Library Science, Health and Education | Eleanor J. Pitkin, Kasey Charlene Zaleski Kaitlyn Harte, Assistant to the Provost IV. Call to Celebration Maria Jacobs, Contract Coordinator Michele D. Perkins, EdD 2021 Class Officers President Jason Daniels Earnhardt Nevada Skye Elkins V. Reflection Giuliana Katherine-Marie Kevlin Lex Scourby, BA ’75, MBA Closing Recession Madison D. Lacharite Chair, Board of Trustees Caitlyn B. McGhee Cortney Ann Reyes VI. Address to Graduating Class Anthony Andre Wright USMC Major Nichole Frances Nicholson Graduate and Professional Studies Administration and Board of Trustees Nevada Skye Elkins The President of New England College, Dr. Michele D. Perkins Undergraduate Honorary Degree Recipient VII. Presentation of Awards Mr. Wes Moore, CEO, Army Combat Veteran and Best-Selling Author • Art and Design Award • Humanities Award • Education Award • Management Award • Science, Health and Education Award • Creative Arts Award • Robert Peter Sylvester Prize • Outstanding Student Award • George M. Parmenter, Jr., Memorial Athletic Award • Priscilla C. Danforth Athletic Award • President’s Graduate Studies Award • Adjunct Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence • Robert A. Kilgore Faculty Award Award Descriptions Academic Division Awards Presented to the qualified graduating senior having the highest grade-point average in their academic division. Creative Arts Award Presented to the graduating senior having shown the greatest proficiency in creative arts, including art, drama, literature, and music. Honorary Degree Recipient and Robert Peter Sylvester Prize Commencement Speaker Awarded in memory of New England College Professor of Philosophy Peter Sylvester (1973-1986), and presented to the graduating senior whose academic career has most exemplified philosophia – the love of Mr. Wes Moore wisdom. CEO of Robin Hood, Army Combat Veteran and Best-Selling Author Doctor of Humane Letters Outstanding Student Award Honoris Causa Presented to the graduating senior who has made outstanding contributions of leadership, energy, and commitment to student life while adhering to high standards of sacrifice, integrity, and loyalty to the Wes Moore is the Chief Executive Officer of Robin Hood, one of the largest College. anti-poverty forces in the nation. He is a bestselling author, a combat veteran, and a social entrepreneur. George M. Parmenter, Jr. Memorial Athletic Award Presented to the senior student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability and Wes’ first book, The Other Wes Moore, a perennial New York Times best-seller, sportsmanship on a men's team. captured the nation’s attention on the fine line between success and failure in our communities and in ourselves. That story has been optioned Priscilla C. Danforth Athletic Award by executive producer Oprah Winfrey and HBO to be made into a movie. Presented to the senior student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic ability and He is also the author of the bestselling books The Work, Discovering Wes sportsmanship on a women's team. Moore, and This Way Home. President's Graduate Studies Award Wes’ latest book, Five Days, explores the uprisings in Baltimore in 2015 Presented to the student in a New England College Graduate Program who best exemplifies professional after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody through a kaleidoscope of leadership and academic excellence. perspectives and examines critical questions about the deeper causes of violence and poverty. Adjunct Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence Presented to a member of the adjunct faculty whose exceptional teaching skills, mastery of subject matter, Wes grew up in Baltimore and the Bronx, where he was raised by a single and ability to inspire and focus on student success are recognized. mom. Despite childhood challenges, he graduated Phi Theta Kappa from Valley Forge Military College in 1998 and Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Robert A. Kilgore Faculty Award Hopkins University in 2001. He earned an MLitt in International Relations Presented to a member of the faculty whose distinguished service to the teaching profession is recognized from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar in 2004. Wes then served as by students, staff, and fellow faculty members. a captain and paratrooper with the U.S. Army’s 82nd airborne, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan. He later served as a White House Fellow to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Academic Regalia: A Brief History Before becoming CEO at Robin Hood, Wes was the founder and CEO at The most visible part of any commencement is the traditional cap and gown, or academic regalia. This BridgeEdu, an innovative tech platform based in Baltimore addressing centuries old tradition provides a visual distinction of academic degrees and the institution granting the college completion and job placement crisis by reinventing freshman that degree. Gowns for three levels of degrees are distinguished mainly by sleeve design. Associate and year for under served students. BridgeEdu was acquired by Edquity, a bachelor gowns have open sleeves. Master gowns have an oblong tail below the sleeve opening, and Brooklyn-based student financial success and emergency aid firm, in doctoral gowns are distinguished by three velvet bars on each sleeve and velvet trim on the gown’s front. June 2019. Wes has also worked in finance as an investment banker with Deutsche Bank in London and with Citigroup in New York. Academic hoods are an integral part of a graduate’s regalia. Colors inside the hoods identify the institution conferring the degree and usually have a black shell trimmed in velvet. The color and width of Wes has served on numerous nonprofit and social-impact boards and is the velvet trim, or hood border, represents the graduate’s academic degree or field of learning. a lifetime member of the Council of Foreign Relations. The joy of Wes’ life are his two children and his wife Dawn. At New England College, academic regalia is worn annually at Convocation, Founders Day, and Commencement – the three celebratory milestones of our academic year. Caps, gowns, and academic costume have been worn since the Middle Ages in Europe and Colonial times in America and we are proud to continue the tradition. 6 7 Hood Border Colors Honors and Designations Accountancy, Business, Commerce Drab In recognition of outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community engagement, the following honors and designations are awarded at commencement. Cords and stoles are worn by Agriculture Maize students. Symbols are noted next to student names. Arts, English, History, Humanities, Sociology White Summa Cum Laude Communication, Journalism Crimson Cumulative grade-point average of 3.8 or higher. Criminal Justice Midnight Blue Magna Cum Laude Cumulative grade-point average between 3.65 and 3.79. Criminology, Environmental Science, Gold Mathematics, Psychology, Science Cum Laude Cumulative grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.64. Dramatic Arts, Fine Arts Brown Blue and Green Cords Economics Copper Membership in Alpha Chi (*), a national college honor society. Education Light Blue Gold Cords 3.3 or higher cumulative grade-point average. Engineering Orange Forestry Russet Red and Blue Cords Membership in Chi Alpha Sigma (^), a national athletic honor society. Law Purple Red, White and Navy Blue Cords Library Science Lemon Nominated for membership in SALUTE (), the Honor Society for student veterans and active duty military, and all veterans and active duty military. Medicine Green White, Black, and Baby Blue Cords Music Pink Membership in Omicron Delta Kappa (#), a national leadership honor society recognizing Physical Education Sage Green leadership roles in and out of the classroom. Political Science, Philosophy Dark Blue Platinum and Dark Blue Cords Membership in Psi Chi: The International Honor