Colby-Sawyer College Celebrates 2012 Commencement
Colby-Sawyer College celebrated its 2012 Commencement on Saturday, May 5, graduating 207 students and recognizing students and other individuals for academic excellence, outstanding contributions to society, and service to the college and community.
Colby-Sawyer recognized the following members of the Class of 2012 for outstanding achievement as scholars, campus leaders and student athletes:
Joseph R. Delaney, a Communication Studies major from Ashfield, Mass., was selected by the college community as the Class of 2012 Commencement Student Speaker and delivered an address titled “Earning the Right.” Mr. Delaney, who earned double minors in Writing for Publication and Studio Art, participated in theater productions, many student clubs, and worked as a video assistant in the production studio, producing increasingly complex and ambitious video productions.
In his senior year, Mr. Delaney served as editor of the college's student newspaper, The Colby-Sawyer Courier, and wrote and produced a successful musical. His academic honors include membership in Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, many Dean's List mentions and a “Best in Show for Mixed Media” award at the 2012 Juried Student Art Exhibition.
The Colby-Sawyer Award is given to the senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, best exemplifies the ideals of the college in personal dignity, intellectual growth, contribution to campus life and constructive influence on other students. The 2012 Colby-Sawyer Award was presented to Madison Hawkins of Lancaster, Mass. She was also the winner of The Wynne Jesser McGrew Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes the female graduate who has made significant contributions to the college's scholastic and varsity athletic programs.
Ms. Hawkins, an Exercise Science major, excelled in the classroom, completed meaningful internships and found time to be an outstanding member of the women's basketball team, of which she was captain in her senior year. A member of the Wesson Honors Program and Alpha Chi honor society, Hawkins excelled in her major and conducted extensive undergraduate research, co-authoring a paper titled “Landing Development: A First Look at Young Children,” that was published in a scientific journal. She also presented a paper at the regional New Hampshire IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (N.H.-INBRE) conference and had an abstract of her research published in another journal.
Ms. Hawkins will continue her education next year at Northeastern University in the Bouvé College of Health and Sciences in the M.S. program for Exercise Science.
Tyler Allan Hendrickson of Groton, Mass., received the Senior Achievement Award. Hendrickson is a Business Administration major who is known as a dedicated, engaged student who is a positive role model and leader with a strong work ethic and deep commitment to his fellow students. He was a resident assistant and worked with the Student Government Association to build community and connect students to help them make the most of their experiences at Colby-Sawyer.
The Alpha Chi Award recipient, Amanda Marie Gibbons, is an English major from Kingston, Mass., who distinguished herself as an active citizen of this community of scholars over her four years. She was a key member of Alpha Chi, the Wesson Honors Program and the Word Order Club. Ms. Gibbons also served as a resident assistant and was an engaged leader in the Campus Activities Board and class boards, always willing to enhance campus life with her contributions.
The Scholar-Athlete Award winner was Owen Stephen Worden, a Sports Management major with a minor in Writing for Publication and Coaching Certification from New Bedford, Mass. Mr. Worden was a member of the Wesson Honors Program, Student Athletic Advisory Committee and the Alpha Chi honor society, and he participated on the Community Council in 2009–2010.
Mr. Worden was recognized with the Academic All-Conference Award in 2010 and 2011, a Sawyer Fellowship Award in 2010, and Most Valuable Player Award in 2010 and 2011, and he has appeared in Who's Who Among American College and University Students since 2010. For two years he has been captain of the men's varsity swimming and diving team.
The Graduate Award, presented to the member of the graduating class whose character and influence most constructively affected the majority of the junior class members, was presented to Thomas C. “T.C.” Elliott, a Business Administration major from East Ryegate, Vt. Mr. Elliott was a role model and mentor for students, known for his integrity, loyalty to students in the classroom and character.
During a semester-long voyage around the world with the University of Virginia's Semester at Sea, he learned to be flexible and to adapt to whatever situations came his way. The experience served him well in his roles as chairman of the Community Council, secretary of the Student Government Association, and as a student representative to the Business Committee and the Academic Policies Committee.
The David H. Winton Baccalaureate Award, which recognizes the graduating student with the highest cumulative grade point average, will be announced at Commencement.
Baccalaureate Awards in Academic Majors
Baccalaureate Awards were presented at Commencement to students who have demonstrated the highest degree of dedication and excellence in their fields of study. The award recipients include the following: Andrew Chew of Tiverton, R.I. (Studio Art); Nicole Moyer of Wells, Vt. (Athletic Training); Faedhra Wagnac of Malden, Mass. (Biology); Chao Lu of Shanghai, China (Business Administration: Dr. Margaret “Marnie” Kurtz Award); Lindsey Elizabeth Brown of East Dover, Vt. (Child Development); Leah Hodder-Romano of Boothbay, Maine (Communication Studies); Jessica Lynne Cassidy of Candia, N.H. (English: Carl M. Cochran Award); Adam Wilson of Woodsville, N.H. (Environmental Science); Philip Robert Oman of Woodstock, Vt. (Environmental Studies); Madison Andrea Hawkins of Boylston, Mass. (Exercise Science); Kameron Mertz of New Hampton, N.H. (Graphic Design); Mallory May Rapalyea of Prides Crossing, Mass. (Health Studies); MaryEllen Gately Shartzer of Bedford, N.H. (History, Society and Culture); Katherine Ann Terrien of Colchester, Vt. (Nursing: Grace Adella Sheldon Graves Award); Kimberly Ann Shaughnessy of Bedford, N.H. (Psychology) and Ian Henry Davis of Rochester, N.H. (Sport Management).
View more information about the student award winners.
Community Awards
Douglas W. Lyon, retired treasurer and former vice president of Finance and Administration, and a resident of New London, N.H., received the college's highest award, the Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service, for his service to the college and community. When Lyon joined Colby-Sawyer in 1989 the college had fewer than 400 students and a $2.5 million endowment; as he retired in January 2012, it had 1,250 students and an endowment approaching $30 million.
In his 23 years as a campus leader, Lyon's common sense, good humor and supreme dedication to the college and community have been invaluable. “Doug's outstanding service over these many years has been key to Colby-Sawyer's growth and success,” said Colby-Sawyer President Tom Galligan. Locally, Lyon serves on the board of directors for New London Hospital, on the New London Zoning Board and as the town's assistant treasurer. He was chairman of the New London Board of Selectmen from 1996 to 2007.
Assistant Professor of Business Administration Jody E. Murphy received the Jack Jensen Award for Excellence in Teaching, the college's highest faculty award, and deliver the Commencement Address, titled “Life Must Balance.” Professor Murphy, who joined the college in 2004 and resides in Grantham, teaches courses in accounting, investment management, strategic management, personal finance, corporate finance, introduction to organizations and managerial communications. Her classes combine lectures with illustrations of problem-solving and hands-on group activities, and her students say she brings great experience and excitement to class every day. Professor Murphy holds a B.S. from Franklin Pierce College, an M.B.A. from New Hampshire College, and a Ph.D. from Capella University.
The Town Award, given to residents of the New London area who have shown extraordinary involvement in, and made noteworthy contributions to, the college, will be awarded to The Friendship Families Program. Each of the college's 100 international students is matched with a Friendship Family from the area that provides them with many kinds of support, from welcoming them into their homes for dinners and during short college breaks to taking them sight-seeing or shopping on a weekend.
The families often join their students for on- and off-campus events throughout the year. Friendship Families weave these students into the fabric of the larger community, providing them with vital personal and professional connections and a sense of belonging and well-being. The idea was introduced to the college by Marsha Halpin Johnson '59, a local alumna who, with her husband, Bruce, has hosted many international students. Today 80 families participate in the program, including 35 staff and faculty families.
For their extraordinary contribution to raising awareness of issues critical to women, the Gown Award was given to members of the Steering Committee for the New Hampshire Women's Caucus. They include Kathleen Farrell, assistant professor of Social Sciences and Education; Melissa Meade, associate professor of Humanities; Amy Millios, technology specialist; Kate Dunlop Seamans, assistant director of Communications; Kimberly Swick Slover, director of Communications; Ann Page Stecker, professor of Humanities; and Margaret Wiley, assistant professor of Humanities.
The caucus was held on campus in November and provided a lively forum focused on vital issues for women in the state, nation and world, and equipped participants with education, resources and tools to work toward improving women's lives. The event attracted close to 200 women and men and featured panel discussions on women's economic, health care and global issues, and a keynote address by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sheryl WuDunn. The participants adopted a platform that calls for affordable, accessible health and reproductive health care; workplace equality and flexibility, with equal opportunities and pay, and affordable, quality child care; and U.S. ratification of the U.N. Women's Rights treaty, which outlaws discrimination against women.
The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Suzanne Turtle Millard, a graduate of the Class of 1956, in recognition of her extraordinary professional accomplishments, deep commitment to women in business, and her generous philanthropy for causes she believes in. A resident of Old Greenwich, Conn., and Wellington, Fla., Ms. Millard assumed leadership of Turtle & Hughes, Inc., an electrical distribution company founded in 1923 by her grandfather, M. Berry Turtle, in 1970. As the third generation of her family to serve as chief executive officer, Millard grew the company over 39 years into one of the top 20 distributors of electrical, industrial, communications and energy solutions products, and one of the top 50 woman-owned businesses of any kind, in the nation.
North Sutton resident William A. Thomas, professor of Natural Sciences, received the Nancy Beyer Opler Award for Excellence in Advising. Professor Thomas, a cellular and developmental biologist, joined the faculty in 1991. In addition to teaching, he conducts research on cell adhesion at the Curie Institute in Paris each summer. Since 2010, Professor Thomas has involved many students in his research and assisted them in developing related independent research.
Students describe Professor Thomas as not just a great professor but also a valuable advisor and vigilant ally who cares about students and takes action on their behalf. “Bill is accessible, approachable and extremely supportive,” wrote one student. “He has always provided valuable insight in terms of classes and scheduling, but when I mentioned that my financial aid situation was also affecting my academics and my emotional life, he took action.” Another student wrote that “Professor Thomas went beyond the call of duty to help me get a job in the Colby-Sawyer water lab. He has been such an inspiration for me and many students.” Professor Thomas received a B.A. from Hamilton College and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University.
View more information about the community award winners.
