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May 27, 2008
School diploma cermonies

CANDLER SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
After welcoming Candler’s graduates, families and friends – including graduates from the class of 1958 celebrating their 50th reunion -- Dean Jan Love quoted Philippians 4:4-9, which states in part “…Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

In all, the school honored 128 Master of Divinity recipients, 22 Master of Theological Studies recipients and 11 Master of Theology recipients. — Kelly McLendon

EMORY COLLEGE
“Four years ago we convened together for the first time at freshman convocation, where faculty members encouraged us to immerse ourselves in the Emory community and inspired us to pursue our passion,” senior class orator Anna Altizer told her 1,129 fellow graduates.

“Over the past four years Emory’s values have become our own,” she said. “And we too have left our mark on Emory University.”

Together at Emory, Altizer said, the class of 2008 has witnessed Emory’s sense of responsibility to the community, acted as world citizens, and confronted uncomfortable issues head on. — Kim Urquhart

GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL
Dean Larry Benveniste said to the class of 2008, “We are blessed that our school bears the name of one of the greatest principled leaders of our time, Roberto C. Goizueta. He was proud of our school and especially proud of our graduates. He would have expected much from you. You have been given the gift of opportunity. Use it wisely. Do good for yourself, your family and your community.”

Olga C. de Goizueta, widow of Roberto C. Goizueta, congratulated and shook hands with each graduate.
The business school awarded 641 degrees: 260 BBAs, 191 full-time MBAs, 65 Evening MBAs, 25 Modular Executive MBAs, and 100 Weekend Executive MBAs.

New this year was a pinning ceremony for graduating children, grandchildren and siblings of Emory alumni during the awarding of BBA diplomas. — Victor Rogers

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Dean Lisa A. Tedesco presided over a ceremony granting diplomas to 131 master’s candidates and 213 doctoral candidates.

Tedesco praised the graduates for their hard work in making the transition from students to scholars, and urged them to “leave with something of the spirit of Emory in your character and with a commitment to pursuing knowledge that will shape our future by addressing the most difficult and important problems of this day.”  

In recognition that the Ph.D. is the highest academic degree, each doctoral graduate received a doctoral hood from his or her adviser and Senior Vice Provost Claire Sterk. — Ulf Nilsson

NELL HODGSON WOODRUFF SCHOOL OF NURSING
It seems fitting on the day that marks Florence Nightengale’s birthday that 181 Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing students graduated. The pioneer of modern nursing is a fitting role model, said Dean Marla Salmon, and Commencement speaker Chancellor Michael M.E. Johns, in turn, said Salmon was the perfect model of a nursing leader to emulate.

He also shared a few life lessons: “Your reputation always will precede you into the room. Your degree is both a blessing and a burden. It is a blessing because you know what excellence is. But now you have a special obligation. You’re good, but we expect you to do better. No matter what you do, you carry the Emory pedigree. You are our proof of principle.” — Kay Torrance

ROLLINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Stan Foster had three words for the 220 Master of Public Health graduates: “Prevention, Prevention, Prevention.” A professor in the  Rollins School of Public Health’s Hubert Department of Global Health, Foster even had a placard printed with those three words. A veteran of smallpox eradication, he drew on the personal statements of students for his address and shared daunting health stats for a “world crying out for prevention.”

The RSPH class of 2008 included students from 39 states and 42 countries, ranging in age from 21 to 59. The school also granted 34 Master of Science diplomas and 22 dual degrees. — Rhonda Mullen

SCHOOL OF LAW
“Law is a very demanding profession. You and only you are responsible for setting your priorities,” Most Outstanding Professor recipient Richard Freer told the 260 graduates during Emory Law’s Hooding and Diploma Ceremony. Freer, who also was honored with Emory’s Scholar/Teacher Award, encouraged students to pursue their legal careers one day at a time.

Notable law graduates included Judge Dorothy Toth Beasley, Emory’s oldest 2008 graduate, and Harriett Musoke, Emory Law’s first Doctor of Juridical Science graduate. — Liz Chilla

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Arthur Kellermann, associate dean for health policy in the medical school, advised the 112 School of Medicine graduates to never lose sight of the “why” in medicine.

Kellermann also paid tribute to Health Students Taking Action Together, the group that campaigned to support Grady Memorial Hospital.

“When Grady’s future was on the line this year, these men and women didn’t hide behind their stethoscopes,” Kellermann said. “They fought for the hospital. And they won.”

In the separate diploma ceremony honoring Emory’s 54 allied health graduates in physical therapy, medical imaging and ophthalmic technology, Jeffrey Koplan put a global perspective on the challenges that health professionals now face.

“Global health needs you,” said Koplan, who directs Emory’s Global Health Institute. “You graduate today well trained, well motivated, and well situated to help people, heal people, and do so with better tools and in more places than last year’s graduates or those before them.” — Pam Auchmutey