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214 Seniors Graduate May 8 |
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 On Sunday, May 8, 2005, Hampden-Sydney College graduated the largest class in the history of the College.
Candidates for Degrees
H-SC Salutes the Class of 2005
 Festivities began Saturday evening, May 7, with a reception for Seniors and their families hosted by
President
and Mrs. Walter Bortz at Middlecourt. The weather fluctuated between clouds and sunshine, with
a sprinkle of rain, but it did not dampen the joy of this first official event of
Commencement weekend.
Sunday, May 8, dawned bright and warm, a pleasant change from an unusually damp and cold spring in Southside Virginia. At 10:30 AM the Baccalaureate Service was held at Fleet
Gymnasium in Kirby Field House. The sermon, "Limping into a New Day,"
was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Marcy Orr, Pastor of College Church and College
Chaplain. Dr. Orr's baccalaureate sermon was about two "gender firsts" at Hampden-Sydney on this day. Dr. Orr is
the first woman to hold the chaplaincy at the all-male Hampden-Sydney College and
the first woman to deliver a
baccalaureate sermon.
After recounting Jacobs' struggles with God, Dr. Orr asked the graduates to relate that story to their years at Hampden-Sydney. "I hope that you have found worthy antagonists here, some faculty members or fellow students, who have pushed you beyond what you
thought were your limits. I hope you realize that your struggles with them were the greatest blessing you could ask for."
 Baccalaureate was followed by luncheon on the Point adjacent to Chalgrove Lake.
 About 1:15 PM the line up began. Dean of Students David Klein
'78 told the seniors, "This is a simple procedure for which
the last four years should
have prepared you. All you have to do is get in alphabetical order."
 The Faculty, whose usual goal is to seek "the light", chose today to seek the shade. They did not have to worry about the alphabet since
senior member of the faculty and Faculty Marshall provided them with a line-up list based on seniority.
 Among the faculty marching was Professor of Philosophy James Janowski, looking very
Medieval in his academic gown. Dr. Janowski was the recipient the 2005 Cabell Award for Excellence in Classroom
Teaching.
 The academic procession of Trustees, Faculty, and Seniors headed by the platform party led by Dr. Bortz and Commencement Speaker
The Honorable Shelley Capito proceeded to the lawn of Venable Hall.
 The senior members of the faculty after Venable Professor of Chemistry William Porterfield: (left to right)
Elliott Professor of Political Science David Marion; Thompson Professor of
Classics James Arietti; Elliott Professor of History James Simms; Spalding Professor of Chemistry Herbert
Sipe; and Professor Emeritus of Mathematics & Computer Science Thomas Mayo.
 The Commencement Address was delivered by the Honorable Shelley Moore Capito,
the first women in the
College's 230-year history to do so.
Capito was recently elected to her
third term as the Representative of the Second Congressional District of West
Virginia. She is the only woman in the West Virginia Congressional
delegation.
The bills Capito has introduced and cosponsored
reflect her priorities to improve the quality of life for every citizen by
creating economic opportunities and accessible, affordable quality health care
including prescription drug coverage under Medicare. Capito has also fought to provide prescription drug
relief to seniors by introducing the "More Savings, More Choice,"
Prescription Drug Card Program, in the 107th and 108th Congress. House Speaker
Dennis Hastert named Congresswoman Capito as the Vice Co-Chairwoman of the
House Prescription Drug Task Force in the 107th and 108th Congress because of
her leadership on this issue. She was a co-sponsor of the Medicare Prescription
Drug Benefit that was signed into law December 9, 2003. She is a member of the House
Rules Committee,
the Congressional Caucus for Woman's Issues,
and the Congressional Steel Caucus.
Capito told the graduates, "I
cannot stand here with certainty and tell you what tomorrow has is store for you but you are
well prepared to handle the challenges...Hampden-Sydney has given you wisdom, and Hampden-Sydney has made you strong."
Commencement Awards:
The Gammon Cup awarded to the member of the graduating class
who has best served the College. Character, scholarship, and athletic ability are considered -
William A. Albright
The Anna Carrington Harrison Award awarded to
that student, or students, who shows the most constructive leadership in each school year - John
Z. Axsom and James C. Miller
The Samuel S. Jones Phi Beta Kappa Award recognizes intellectual excellence as manifested in outstanding student
research -
Matthew
E. K. Brady for his paper “Man of Words”
Wesley
R. Sholtes for his paper “The Temptation Ethic:
Synthesizing Virtue and Monarchy in Milton’s Post-Restoration Poetry"
The Cabell
Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching recognizes outstanding classroom contribution to the education of Christian
young men - Associate Professor of Philosophy James D. Janowski
The Robert Thruston Hubard IV Award to that member of the faculty or staff most
distinguished for active devotion and service to the College and her ideals -
Director
of Publications Richard C. McClintock
The Thomas Edward Crawley Award to that professor most distinguished for devoted service to the
ideals of Hampden-Sydney and the education of her sons - Professor of English Mary M. Saunders
The John Brooks Fuqua Awards for Excellence in Teaching:
Assistant Professor of Modern Languages Dieudonne K. Afatsawo
Professor
of Economics David W. Gibson
Elliott
Professor of Economics Kenneth N. Townsend
Assistant
Professor of Political Science Warner R. Winborne
Assistant
Professor of Religion John David Ramsey
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallions:
To
a member of the graduating class distinguished for excellence of
character and generous service to his fellows - Thomas McKennon Shea
Other
recipients are chosen from those friends of the College who have
been conspicuously helpful to and associated with the institution in its effort
to encourage and preserve a high standard of morals -
George
B. Cartledge, Jr. '63
Earl F. Lockwood
Each year
it is customary for the senior class to give an award to the person or persons
who have been most instrumental in the lives of the class members. This year’s
award was presented by John Axsom '05 to Dean of Students David A. Klein.
Jeffrey
P. Pullinger was commissioned
as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
First Honor Graduate Matthew Brady delivered the the
valedictory address. Matt is an Allan Scholar
majoring in Biology and English with
a cumulative grade point average of 3.987.
Honorary Degrees:
Shelley Moore Capito - Doctor of Laws
Dr. W. Randolph Chitwood, Jr. '68 - Doctor of Science
Jay M. Ipson - Doctor of Humane Letters
 Following the presentation of
Honorary Degrees, degrees were awarded to the 214 members of the Class of 2005.
 After President Bortz made his charge to graduates, the
ceremony was adjourned to the lawn between Middlecourt and Winston Hall for lemonade
. . .
 and farewells.
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