“I have defined my responsibility today as three-fold,” said the Reverend Ross Olivier in his 2007 commencement speech at Millsaps College: “to honor the 2007 graduating class for their achievement; to celebrate the love and dedication of the many who have contributed to their success; and to charge the graduates with new challenges, responsibilities and life-goals.” Olivier, senior pastor at Galloway United Methodist Church and the recipient this year of an honorary doctor of public service degree, spoke to a crowd of more than 2,000, including graduates, family and friends, at Millsaps’ 113th annual Commencement ceremonies, held on Saturday, May 12, in the campus Bowl.
"As you enter the greater world, I hope you’ll take with you the ability to see where the community needs you most and have the compassion to fill that need,” said Frances Lucas, president of the College, in her introductory remarks. “We have all been given a hand at some point in time, and now you’ll have the opportunity to offer a hand to the next generation.”
In a similar vein, Olivier emphasized the South African concept of “ubuntu,” which, he said, means “we exist only because of others; we are interconnected; we need each other; we can only become fully human individually as we acknowledge each other in community.” In addition to his own honorary degree and address, Olivier celebrated with his son, Jon-Mark, who received his bachelor’s degree from Millsaps on Saturday.
Other honorary degree recipients were Dr. Helen Barnes, who received a doctor of science for her pioneering work in social justice, obstetrics and gynecology in Mississippi; Millsaps alumnus Joe Frank Sanderson Jr., who received a doctor of laws for his entrepreneurship and commitment to renewing the Gulf Coast; and Dr. John D. Bower, who received a doctor of public service for his revolutionary work in nephrology and renal care.
The Millsaps Founders’ Medal, awarded to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average for the entire college course of study and a grade of excellent on the comprehensive examinations, went to Aprile Gilmore, a chemistry major. She will attend the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Chris Spear, an English major, was honored for his essay on the value of a Millsaps liberal arts education with the Frank and Rachel Anne Laney Award. The Don Fortenberry Award, which recognizes the graduating senior who has demonstrated the most notable, meritorious, diligent and devoted service to the college with no expectation of recognition, reward or public remembrance, was given to John Forrest Douglas, who majored in religious studies.
The winner of the Distinguished Professor Award was Dr. Kim Burke, professor of accounting and the Kelly Gene Cook Chair of Business Administration. Howard McMillan, dean of the Millsaps College Else School of Management, says Burke’s teaching evaluations are consistently among the highest at Millsaps, and she maintains these high evaluations while remaining committed to the strongest academic standards in the classroom.
Click here to read the Commencement 2007 address by Rev. Ross Olivier.
Dr. Kimberly Gladden Burke, professor of accounting and the Kelley Gene Cook Chair of Business Administration, was named as the Distinguished Professor of the Year. She is shown with Dr. George Bey and President Frances Lucas
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Aprile Claire McGilvray Gilmore received the Founders’ Medal, awarded each year to the graduating senior who has the highest grade point average for the entire College course of study, and has received a grade of Excellent on the comprehensive examinations
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Christopher Phillip Spear won the Frank and Rachel Anne Laney Award which recognizes the graduating senior who has written the finest essay reflecting on the value of a Millsaps liberal arts education
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The recipient of the 2007 Fortenberry Award was John Forrest Douglas, pictured with the Reverend Don Fortenberry, Dr. Brit Katz, and President Lucas
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