Tennis great addresses Williams grads

WILLIAMSTOWN – Amidst a sea of Williams College bucket hats and umbrellas to combat the 90-degree heat, members of the Class of 2013 received their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Of the 527 bachelor’s degree recipients, 14 were from Berkshire County: Deena Rene Bak (Cheshire), Miranda Lynn Bona (Clarksburg), Nathaniel Heatherington Finan (Williamstown), Evan Elliot Flournoy Grillon (Windsor), Robert Daniel Hackett (Great Barrington), Jenay Elise Haskins (Williamstown), Kimberly Marie Holachek (Williamstown), Zane K. Martin (Housatonic), Ashley Rose Meczywor (Lenox), Ian McKee Nesbitt (Williamstown), James David Nolan (Williamstown), Eleanor Piraino Fitz Randolph (Richmond), Emily Anne Ury (Great Barrington) and Cary DeForest White (Williamstown).

Held on the West College Lawn, the school’s 224th Commencement began with an address by Williams President Adam F. Falk.

“One of the nice aspects of this weekend is watching the graduates interact with the Williams faculty and staff,” he said.

In addition to the commencement, the weekend’s festivities included ivy exercises, a baccalaureate service and an athlete recognition reception.

Honorary degrees

One highlight of the commencement was the keynote speech from one of the honorary degree recipients, Billie Jean King.

The legendary tennis star and equal rights champion encouraged the Williams graduates to be active in going forward with their lives.

“Be alert,” she said. “Stay awake as you go through life.”

“It’s your turn to shape the future,” she added.

For a bit of levity, following her speech, Ms. King hit tennis balls into the crowd while “Philadelphia Freedom” (which Elton John wrote for her) echoed from every corner of the Williams campus.

In addition to Ms. King, who received an honorary doctor of laws, six other people received honorary degrees: mathematician Edward B. Burger (doctor of laws), Grammy Award-winning singer/humanitarian Annie Lennox (doctor of fine arts), Village Health Works founder and CEO Deogratias Niyizonkiza (doctor of laws), businessman and presidential advisor Richard D. Parsons (doctor of laws), former Williams Dean Nancy A. Roseman (doctor of laws) and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Williams alum Stacy M. Schiff (doctor of letters).

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on June 6, 2013. Filed under Education News,Featured,Graduations,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry