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May 10, 2014 – Allegheny College today honored 487 students and three distinguished leaders at Commencement ceremonies in the 199th year of the college.

Journalist and PBS NewsHour co-anchor Judy Woodruff, who was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the ceremony, delivered the commencement address. Co-anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff, Woodruff has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS.

“What you’ve learned here provides you with the compass to navigate the uncertainties that lie ahead,” Woodruff told the graduates. “Today is one of ‘mission accomplished’ for you and your families. This is a moment to reflect on the world you enter.

“First, whatever your political persuasion, government matters, for good or ill; it decides whether you or your children will go to war, what type of health care and retirement system you live under, how much in taxes you pay and it affords you the protection of a civil society.

“Government today, especially in Washington, too often is paralyzed by gridlock and partisanship at the expense of the greater good. One of the facets I love about this college is your Civility award — given this past year to the Women members of the United States Senate and two years earlier to my NewsHour colleagues David Brooks and Mark Shields. My home town would do well to spend a little time at Allegheny.”

In addition to Woodruff, honorary doctorates of humane letters were conferred on Kitty Dukakis, mental health advocate and former First Lady of Massachusetts, and Lucius T. Outlaw, professor of philosophy and of Africana and Diaspora studies at Vanderbilt University.

Rob Smith, Allegheny Class of 1973 and chairman of the college’s board of trustees, welcomed the graduates and their families.

Saturday’s ceremony concluded with Allegheny president James H. Mullen Jr.’s charge to the class of 2014. He called on graduates to achieve at the highest level as professionals and as citizens, to employ the full measure of their promise and potential, to live lives of courage and conviction, to see and appreciate beauty even where others may not, to find joy and laughter in the challenge of their days and to never forget what it means to be a friend.

“I charge you to love this place that has been your home for the last four years,” said Mullen. “As it approaches its third century, help it as it sets the standard of excellence for liberal arts learning in America.”

The 32nd oldest college in the nation, Allegheny College will celebrate its bicentennial in 2015.

Photo by Ed Mailliard