Clarkson grads make mothers proud
POTSDAM — The mothers of Clarkson University's class of 2009 got something much more meaningful for Mother's Day this year than a bouquet of flowers and a card. They got to see their children walk across the stage and receive their degrees. One or two even had messages to their mothers written in white on their mortarboards.
More than 600 Clarkson seniors joined the ranks of the university's nearly 37,000 alumni on Sunday at its 116th commencement ceremony.
"It's kind of emotional. She's my baby," said Martha A. Cook, Hogansburg, whose daughter Julie M. Cook-White received her bachelor's degree in business and technology management. "My son graduated from here. She came here part-time."
This year is the last time Clarkson moms will see their children graduate on Mother's Day. Next year, the ceremony will be moved to the Saturday the week before, Clarkson President Anthony G. Collins said.
In recognition of their efforts, pride, and in many cases, thousands of tuition dollars, Mr. Collins asked all mothers and grandmothers — and later fathers and other family — to stand and be applauded before the class of 2009 walked. The round of applause has been a Clarkson tradition for years, he said.
Senior class president Brandon T. Acres, a business and technology management major from Madrid, thanked the mothers in the audience for their support before challenging his classmates to have fun and continue to lead future generations of Clarkson students. He then gave Mr. Collins a check for $26,020, the largest gift of any graduating class, to be used on construction of another hang-out in the student center, Bar 9.
Mr. Acres then joined the ranks of his fellow graduates, which included 496 bachelor's degrees, 85 master's, 14 doctorates in physical therapy and 10 doctorates in philosophy. Matthew D. Parno, an electrical engineering and applied mathematics and statistics major, and Sayuri D. Yapa, a mechanical engineering major from Hannawa Falls, received the university's highest undergraduate awards, the Levinus Clarkson and Frederica Clarkson Awards, respectively.
The university also granted honorary degrees to Ray Kurz-weil, an inventor and entrepreneur; John H. Seinfeld, a California Institute of Technology professor and environmental scientist; Joan A. Steitz, a Yale professor; and Daniel F. Sullivan, president of St. Lawrence University.
