Honors breakfast
UD Honors Program recognizes students for exceptional academic achievements
4:42 p.m., May 30, 2015--The University of Delaware Honors Program held its annual honors breakfast on Friday, May 29, in the Gold Tent on The Green.
An audience of several hundred students, family and friends joined UD faculty, staff and administrators to recognize 47 students receiving the honors degree with distinction and 212 students receiving the honors degree at the University’s 166th Commencement on Saturday.
Campus Stories
From graduates, faculty
Doctoral hooding
Honors degree recipients satisfy all the coursework and grade point average requirements of the Honors Program. Honors degree with distinction recipients meet honors requirements and also complete and defend an honors thesis.
The program was led by Michael Arnold, associate professor of economics and director of the Honors Program.
University President Patrick Harker lauded the honors graduates, noting that “we put you in our toughest classes, and you excelled.”
In being asked to “think deeply, write clearly and speak forcefully,” he said, the Honors students have “enriched the intellectual life of this University.”
He cited the work of students Lauren Genova, who has researched the links between a protein and inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s; Arjun Patel, who will be continuing his education at the Sidney Kimmel College of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University to become a doctor; and Emily Grubb, who received a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Taiwan and pursue a career in international diplomacy.
Harker also noted that this year’s highest student accolade, the Warner and Taylor awards, went to Honors students Elizabeth Quartararo and Mark Rucci.
The Honors graduates were assisted along the way by professors and advisers, dean and department chairs, and also families, Harker said.
Harker closed by offering a story about former Air Force pilot and astronaut William Pogue, who during the 1970s spent three months in space about Skylab. Pogue said he believed the work schedule set by NASA was excessive, not allowing enough time for those aboard the orbiting laboratory to take time to enjoy the spectacular view.
After a brief work stoppage, NASA relented and allowed for more time to gaze out the window at the wonder of the universe.
As the graduates begin the road to success in graduate school or on the job, Harker said he hopes they will remember what Pogue would advise: “Slow down sometimes, look around, and let yourself be amazed by the view.”
Related stories and resources
• UD held its 166th Commencement ceremony on Saturday morning.
• Follow the conversation on social media by checking out the Storify site.
• For videos about Commencement, see the University’s YouTube channel.
• Honorary degrees were presented to five outstanding individuals.
• Outstanding seniors and alumni were an important part of the Commencement processional.
• Eight high index seniors were honored.
• The Commencement view from graduates and faculty members.
• A doctoral hooding ceremony was held on Friday morning.
• Read the remarks by Commencement speaker David DeWalt.
Photos by Evan Krape