Landmark College Honors Spring 2017 Graduates

by Madeline Bergstrom

PUTNEY, Vt. -- Seventy-eight graduates were honored on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Landmark College's Spring Commencement Ceremony, including nine baccalaurate graduates, 57 graduates who earned an associate degree in liberal studies, and four graduates each in the associate degree programs in business studies, computer science, and life sciences. 

The ceremony opened with an invocation by Michael Luciani, vice president for student affairs and dean of student life. Dr. Peter Eden, Landmark College's president, delivered the welcome address. Nan Strauch, a member of the Board of Trustees and the parent of a member of Landmark College's first class of students, honored five longtime Landmark College faculty and staff members who are retiring this year: Linda Hecker, Tom Kosiba, Lesle Lewis, Virginia Scholl, and Tom Trenchard.

The most distinctive feature of a Landmark College commencement is that every graduate has the opportunity to speak about their academic journey as they receive their diploma. Stories ranged from poignant to funny, serious to irreverent.

Watch the ceremony here:

 

Awards

Community Service Award: Ahmad Ghiaz Badruddin (pictured here receiving the award from Michael Luciani)

The Community Service Award is given to the student who has unselfishly given of themselves to the activities of the Landmark College community.

 

Academic Dean's Award: Mariah Edson (not pictured) and Molly Nelson (pictured below receiving her award from Dr. Gail Gibson, vice president for academic affairs)

The Academic Dean's Award is given to the student who has best demonstrated the qualities that define academic success at Landmark College. These qualities include hard work, seriousness toward learning, intellectual development, and measurable achievement, such as grades.

 

Charles Drake Award: Ben Raskin-Gross (pictured below with Dr. Peter Eden)

The Charles Drake Award is awarded to a student who has inspired the Landmark College community through his or her personal qualities. This student is not a quitter, but one who lives in the tradition of Dr. Charles Drake, whose lifetime of vision and courage helped to found the College. This student gives 100 percent, goes the extra mile, and perseveres in the pursuit of his or her goals. This student helps the rest of us realize that we have more resources to draw upon than we think, and helps us to keep going when we feel discouraged.

 

President's Award: Michael Kenyon (pictured below with Dr. Peter Eden)

The President's Award is given to the student who has best exemplified the principles we believe in here at Landmark College. This student is talented and energetic, meets difficulties head-on, works hard, and  is dedicated to his or her studies. On the other hand, this student also finds time to contribute to the well-being of other people and to the life of the Landmark College community as a whole.

 

Spring 2017 Graduates

Congratulations to all the graduates!

Associate of Science in Life Sciences 

Jeanette Brendler
Samantha Jackson
Rhiannon Greywolf *
Matthew Merline *

 

Key to Symbols:

°Golden Key Honor Society
* Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
♦ Communication
Ω Psychology
β Computer Science
€ Media Studies
π Business Studies
¤ Education
∞ Natural Science