Thomas More College 72nd Annual Commencement Exercises Saturday, May 13, 2000 1,30 p.in. Mission Statement Thomas More College is a Catholic, coeducational, liberal arts college affiliated with the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky. Thomas More College creates an atmosphere of Christian values within which a liberal education can be pursued. Graduates of the College should be able to think analytically and to use the methods employed in the humanities, the fine arts, the social sciences, the natural sciences and mathematics. They should be proficient in the method proper to at least one specialized field of study and should display proflciency in oral and written communication. Pursuit of a liberal arts education is accomplished within a framework of academic and professional programs leading to appropriate certiflcates and degrees, as well as to fruitful careers. The College encourages all members of its community to develop virtues exemplified by the College's patron, St. Thomas More. Students, faculty, and administrators are expected to act with integrity, to display a concern for justice, to serve others, and to continue the pursuit of intellectual and spiritual development. Graduates of Thomas More College are expected to maintain a commitment to these values in their roles as responsible members of their communities. Thomas More College is committed to the educational needs of the people and institutions of the Diocese of covington, but actively extends the educational opportunities it offers to all qualifled persons. The platform Party from loft to right)t Ms. Patsy J. Kenner Registrar Thomas More College Peter C. Thornton, Ph.D. Professor of Management Chair of the Faculty Thomas More College The Reverend William F. Cleves, Ph.D. President Thomas More College Mr. Charles R. Scheper Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Thomas More College Chief Operating Officer American Annuity Group, Inc. The Most Reverend Robert W. Muench, D.D. Bishop of the Diocese of covington Chancellor of Thomas More College Mr. Raymond A. Mueller Founder and Retired Chairman of the Board Comair Holdings, Inc. Mr. David R. Mueller Founder, Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Comair Holdings, Inc. Chairman of the Delta Connection Carrier Advisory Committee Mr. Nick Clooney Featured Colurmist Cincinnati and Kentucky Post Dale K Myers, Ph.D. Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Thomas More College The College Marshal Christopher N. Lorentz, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology Thomas More College Order of the Hxercises Processional Organ and Brass Ensemble Robert J. Schaffer, Litt.D., M.A., A.A.G.O. Music Director, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption Adjunct Professor, Thomas More College National Anthem Organ and Brass Ensemble Invocation Ms. Meredith Ellen Otte Presidential Award Recipient Presentation of Presidential Award The Reverend William F. Cleves, Ph.D. President Citation of Outstanding Teacher Awards Dale K. Myers, Ph.D. Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Presentation of St. Thomas More Medallion The Reverend William F. Cleves, Ph.D. Commencement Address Mr. Nick Clooney Featured Colurmist Cincinnati and Kentucky Post Conferring of Honorary Doctorates The Reverend William F. Cleves, Ph.D. Presentation of the Candidates for Degrees The Reverend William F. Cleves, Ph.D. Remarks Mr. Charles R. Scheper Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Benediction The Most Reverend Robert W. Muench, D.D. Bishop of the Diocese of Covington Chancellor of the College Recessional Organ and Brass Ensemble A reception sponsored by the Alumni Association will immediately follow. Ms. Meredith Hllen Otte Recipient Presidential Service Award Meredith Otte is a Social Studies - Secondary Education major. She recently completed her student teaching at Newport Central Catholic High School and clinical experience at Newport Central Catholic High School and Simon Kenton High School. During her academic career, Ms. Otte has received numerous awards and honors from the College. Among them are: the Outstanding Service Award; the Academic Excellence Kentucky Teacher Scholarship; Academic Excellence Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society Award, the Kappa Delta Pi Service Award, the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award; and the Recognition of Student Service Award. SheisachartermemberofKappaDeltaPiEducationHonorSociety,servingthatorganizationasSecretany and Vice President. She is also a member of phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society. Ms. Otte has been extremely active in volunteer activities as a student at Thomas More College. She has been a member `of the Student Admissions Association since 1997 and a Tour Guide Trainer since 1999. She has been a member of Student Foundation since 1997 and has played essential roles with the Freshman Orientation Program as a Team Leader in 1997 and 1998 and as Director in 1999. Ms. Otte will leave an impressive legacy of commitment and service to others at Thomas More College. She has the unique talent of quietly leading her peers through her enthusiasm, dedication, and involvement. Ms. Otte is a fine young scholar who is genuinely dedicated to the good of others. She exemplifies in her conduct the virtues ofourpatron, St. Thomas More, virtues sorely needed today: scholarship, service, and integrity. The Presidential Award is given to a senior who demonstrates continued service to the College through inwoivement in a variety Of organizations and/or activities, exemplifies leadership through service, maintains high academic standards, and displays a positive attitude. Nick Clooney Speaker St. Thomas More Medallion Recipient 72nd Annual Commencement The consistent thread evident in the career of Nick Clooney is communication. As a television newsman, Mr. Clooney has been reporter, anchor, managing editor, and news director in Cincimati, Salt Lake City, Buffalo, and Los Angeles. As a columnist, Mr. Clooney has, since 1989, contributed three columns a week to the C'i.#c;.##clfz. and Ke#fwcky Post dealing with subjects as varied as current politics, travel and American history. Many of his articles and op-ed pieces have appeared in newspapers around the country, including the Log ,4#ge/es Times a]nd trye Salt Lake Tribune. As a writer, he has published two books and is now working on a third publication As a television host, Mr. Clooney was for five years a daily on-air spokesman and writer for American Movie Classics (AMC) cable channel. He made scores of personal appearances coast-to-coast on AMC's behalf, with special focus on fllm preservation. Earlier, he hosted talk-variety programs in Cincinnati and Columbus, and was guest host on programs in New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Indianapolis. Mr. Clooney first worked on radio at age 16 in his home town of Maysville, Kentucky, and has conducted a variety of programs over the years. Currently, he is the host of a syndicated program tracing the history and the impact of popular music over the last century. Mr. Clooney has been speaker, master of ceremonies or a panelist at nearly 3,000 events. He has also accumulated a number of awards. He was named one of the "best in the business of television news" by the Wczsfez.#gro7z Revz.ew o//ocwcz/I.sin. He has received an EMMY for commentary, was three times nominated for national EMMY's for his work on AMC, and has received nearly 300 other awards. In December of 1998, Mr. Clooney was presented an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Northern Kentucky University. Mr. Clooney is married to Nina Warren of Perryville, Kentucky, who is a writer, inventor and TV host. Their oldest child Ada, also a writer, is mother of the World's Only Grandchildren, Allison and Nick. Their younger child, son George, is a very high-profile and successful actor and producer in film and television. For 25 years, the Clooney's have lived in tiny Augusta, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio River, where Ms. Clooney was elected to city council. Mr. Clooney's famous sister Rosemary also has a home in Augusta, just 20 miles downriver from Maysville, the town in which both were born. Raymond A. Mueller and David R. Mue]ler Honorary Degree Recipients Raymond A. Mueller RaymondA.MuellerisFounder,andformerDirector,andChairmanoftheBoardofcomairHoldings, Inc., the parent corporation of Comair, Inc., the Cincinnati based Delta Connection airline. In 1952, Mr. Mueller founded, owned and operated R.A. Mueller, Inc., a selling and distribution organization specializing in products used in the chemical and industrial industries. He is a former Director and Chairman ofNAOTC, the issuer organization in the NASDAQ security trading system. Additionally, he served as a member of the Corporate Advisory Board of NASD, the self-regulating body of the NASDAQ system. Mr. Mueller is a founder, and current board member of First National Bank of Northern Kentucky. He is active in numerous civic organizations in Naples, Florida. Mr. Mueller and his wife of 55 years, Norma, are the parents of Ms. Gloria Weber, Ms. Judy Larock and Mr. David Mueller, grandparents of six, and great-grandparents of three. David R. Mueller David R. Mueller is a Founder, and former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Comair Holdings, Inc., the parent corporation of Comair, Inc., the Cincinnati based Delta Connection airline. Presently, he is an advisor to Delta and is Chairman of the Delta Connection Carrier Advisory Committee. Mr. Mueller serves on the Local Government Task Force Committee and is a member of Conquistadores del Cielo. In addition, he has served as a past officer of the Cincinnati Chapter of the International Young President's Organization and remains an active member. Mr. Mueller has also held numerous board positions with various public companies in the United States. He is also involved with several charitable and civic organizations in the greater Cincinnati area. From 1996 through 1998, Mr. Mueller successfully directed Scfeo/czrsfezp, Servz.ce, cj77cJ /7t/egrz.fy.. 77!e Cczmpcw.g# /or 77!omczs A4o7'e Co//egg as General Campaign Chairman which suapassed the $5.