Commencement 2002: Stories and pictures

There were 1,225 graduating seniors.

Fairfield University conferred an honorary doctor of laws degree on Loretta Brennan Glucksman, chairman of The American Ireland Fund that supports educational, cultural and public service projects in Ireland, and the Rev. George W. Bur, S.J., president of the Gesu School in Philadelphia that serves inner-city children; and an honorary doctor of science degree on John P. Sachs, Ph.D., of New Canaan, Conn. a former trustee of Fairfield University and former president and CEO of Great Lakes Carbon Corporation.

Martin J. Dempsey of Ansonia, Conn., delivered the valedictory address. He told his classmates, "in the tragic events of September 11 we were forced to look beyond the problems and circumstances of our own lives and recognize our personal problems are often trivial in light of the greater problems that exist in the world." He challenged them to "take a moment to step back and evaluate your situation. never take for granted the simple things in life because they will not always be there."

Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S. J., university president, presented the Saint Ignatius Loyola Medal for outstanding university service to Aimee V. Wagner of Mahwah, N.J., and the Bellarmine Medal for the highest four-year academic average to Brett J. Yacoviello of Trumbull, Conn.

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Posted On: 05-13-2002 09:05 AM

Volume: 34 Number: 234