600 walk the aisle at DePauw

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Nearly 600 undergraduates received degrees Saturday at DePauw University's 169th commencement exercises.

Debbie Bial, founder of the Posse Foundation, shared keynote speaker duties with Robert G. Bottoms, who is retiring after 22 years as president of DePauw.

The Posse Foundation identifies, recruits and trains student leaders from urban public high schools to form multicultural teams called "posses." The program sends students to top-tier colleges and universities nationwide.

DePauw has partnered with the Posse Foundation since 1996.

Bial received an honorary degree from DePauw in 2000. On Saturday, she was awarded the McNaughton Medal for Public Service.

"I hope that you care enough to reach into the depths of your soul and live your life so fully that you feel as if you are about to burst," Bial told the graduates. "If we care about each other's causes and pool our resources -- if we care about each other's problems we have much more chance to build greater prosperity for all."

Bottoms, who has worked at DePauw for 30 years, is the longest-serving president in the university's history.

"The important thing I have learned in working with students like you and faculty members and alumni … the most important aspect of life is serving one another," he said.

Bottoms closed by telling the graduates he hoped they would experience "the joy of loving others even in an imperfect world, and you will learn by experience that true freedom, true meaning, is found in serving others."

Video clips of the graduation ceremony and addresses can be found online at www.depauw.edu

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: