Landmark College Celebrates 32 New Graduates

PUTNEY, Vt. – Thirty-two graduates crossed the stage at the Greenhoe Theater at Landmark College’s Fall 2016 Commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 10. The graduating class included 24 recipients of an associate of arts degree (20 in liberal studies and four in business studies), three who earned an associate of science degree (two in computer science/gaming and one in life sciences), and five who received a bachelor’s of arts in liberal studies. 

Watch the ceremony:

 

Of the 25 associate degree graduates, 11 plan to stay at Landmark College to earn a bachelor’s degree. Landmark College now offers three bachelor’s degrees (in liberal arts, computer science, and studio art) as well as four associate degrees.

In his remarks, Landmark College’s president, Dr. Peter Eden, emphasized that Landmark College will “remain committed to the liberal arts.” He stressed the importance of critical thinking, which he defined as "the objective, intellectually discplined process of assimilating, assessing, and evaluating information... It's a process that allows one to see the real connections between ideas." Dr. Eden also shared the news that Landmark College had just received continued accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

At every Landmark College graduation, each student has the opportunity to speak as they receive their degree. At Saturday's Commencement, graduate Jackson Hunter said, "Every day, having teachers that knew it wasn't the material that was important, but teaching it in a way that was understood by many different types of learners was... This is the first school I've been to where every student cares about their education."

In her speech, KelliAnne Storck thanked her parents "for pushing me every single day to make me be where I am today."

Nicholas Vidmar said, "In the two and half years that I've been here, I've learned more about myself than I could possibly ever imagine."

Fay Carroll, one of the day's five bachelor's degree recipients, spoke about "My Landmark family, along with education (thanks for that, by the way!), has given me self-confidence and helped me love the person I am."

Presentation of Awards

Four students won awards at the ceremony. Michael Luciani, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of student life, presented the Community Service Award to Fay Carroll. In their tribute to Carroll, Resident Director Ellen Wood and Associate Director of Alumni Relations Tricia Stanley wrote, “Your journey here is the epitome of what it means to be a student at Landmark College, not only in the classroom, but giving back to the greater community in your work as a Resident Assistant. The countless students you have positively impacted and the endless ways your creativity has brightened your peers’ and colleagues’ days will never be forgotten.”

Dr. Adrienne Major, academic dean, spoke glowingly of Matthew Bavelock, the recipient of the Academic Dean’s Award. She shared that Landmark College Academic Advisor Ann Wheeler had praised Bavelock's "quiet pursuit of excellence," while Professor Gil Rosenberg of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department called him "the kind of student who is willing to put in the work, the time, the office hours, the questions, and the sacrifices to learn the material to the level of mastery."

Robert Brennan was the winner of the Charles Drake Award. Dr. Eden shared the words of Academic Advisor Nevada Bromley, who wrote, “Ever thoughtful and highly observant, Robert carries a strong sense of social justice and cares deeply about basic rights… Even when faced with a difficult situation, it has always been apparent that Robert will think things through, make an informed, pragmatic decision and persevere.”

Dr. Eden presented the President’s Award to Robert J. Lutz II. Business Professor Jim Koskoris said of Lutz, “He is a compassionate, thoughtful individual who cares deeply about his classmates, friends, society, and the environment… I admire his strong work ethic, his persistence, his sense of fair play, his interest in the well-being of others, and his consistent requests for suggestions about how he might improve his learning and academic performance.”

Class Gift

Graduates Fay Carroll and Megan Freeman presented the Class Gift from the class of 2016. The gift, totaling $2,104, will go toward scholarships.

Robert E. Lewis, chair of the Landmark College Board of Trustees, offered the closing remarks.

Congratulations to all of the graduates!

Fall 2016 Graduates

Baccalaureate graduates complete a capstone project of their own choosing as part of their degree. Topics are listed below.

 

Key:

°Golden Key Honor Society

* Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

♦ Communication

Ω Psychology

β Computer Science

€ Media Studies

π Business Studies

¤ Education

∞ Natural Science