Members of the Class of 2017 take a commencement-day selfie on Jefferson Square in May.
The University of Mary Washington graduated 1,190 students during its 106th commencement in an undergraduate ceremony on May 13 and a graduate ceremony on May 12.
Edward Ayers, historian and onetime University of Richmond president, addressed undergraduates Saturday morning on Ball Circle and encouraged them to capitalize on an uncertain future, reminding them that there have been many tumultuous times in American history.
Rachelle Serena Dambrose ’17, whose GPA was 3.9, received the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for finishing with the highest grade-point average in the four-year undergraduate program.
At the graduate commencement on Friday night in Dodd Auditorium, Navy Deputy Assistant Secretary John D. Burrow challenged the 155 master’s degree recipients to step up as much-needed leaders.
Four longtime professors and an administrator were awarded emeritus status at commencement:
Manning Collier, associate professor emeritus of mathematics, served for 35 years.
Steve Hampton, associate professor emeritus of psychology, served for 37 years.
Mary Rigsby, professor emerita of English, served for 25 years.
Douglas Sanford, professor emeritus of historic preservation, served for 30 years.
David Berreth, director emeritus of the Gari Melchers Home and Studio, served for 27 years.
The emeritus title is bestowed on faculty members and administrators who have served the university for at least 15 years and who have attained the rank of professor or associate professor.