Governor Warner urges VCU graduates to support higher education throughout their lives

By Malorie Burkett

RICHMOND, Va. – At Virginia Commonwealth University commencement exercises today, Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner told the graduates that VCU’s tradition of excellence won’t be sustained unless they recognize and embrace the value of education.

“You can’t have education on the cheap in Virginia,” Gov. Warner said.  “VCU and Virginia need you to support public universities.  Don’t sit on the sidelines on this or any other issues that shape America’s future.”

Warner praised the General Assembly for $275 million it has included in the state budget for higher education, $32 million of which has been appropriated to VCU for instruction, student aid and the construction of a new School of Business. 

Warner, who was inaugurated in 2002 as the 69th governor of Virginia, also received an honorary doctor of humane letters during the ceremony.

More than 2,700 professional, graduate and undergraduate degrees were awarded during the Spring 2004 commencement activities.  At VCU’s fall commencement in December 2003, more than 1,800 degrees were conferred.

“You have been students at VCU during a time of dramatic and positive changes, some more obvious than others, all driven by our desire to create the best learning environment for you,“ said VCU President Dr. Eugene P. Trani.

He noted the physical changes to VCU over the past four years, recognizing the class of 2004 as the first to set foot in the Stuart C. Siegel Center, as well as among the first to walk the halls of the School of the Arts building, the Engineering building, the Life Sciences building and the Gateway building.

“While our new physical structures are certainly impressive, what is more impressive is what they bring together – our students, our faculty, our community, new technology and innovative teaching and research,” Dr. Trani said.  “This is not the same university that it was a decade ago or when you began your education here.  We are better, stronger and more integrated than ever and show no signs of slowing our progress.”

In other commencement activities, the Edward A. Wayne Medal was presented to four individuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions and extraordinary service to VCU:

• Jay M. and Sondra E. Weinberg of Richmond established the Jay M. and Sondra E. Weinberg Undergraduate Scholarship Fund at VCU. Mr. Weinberg also served as rector of the VCU Board of Visitors from 1997 to 1999, and vice chairman of the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals Authority board until 2001.

   

• Fenton N. and Patricia H. Hord of Raleigh, N.C., have been long-time supporters of brain cancer research at VCU. They established the F. Norton Hord, Jr. Professorship Fund, which sponsors a brain cancer researcher. The professorship was established in memory of their son and VCU alum, Fenton N. Hord, Jr., who died of a brain tumor in 1991.

VCU’s highest honor, the Presidential Medallion, was presented to Edward L. Flippen of Richmond for his significant contributions to the university. Flippen served as rector of the VCU Board of Visitors from 2000-2002. He is a partner at McGuireWoods LLP in the Public Utilities and Energy Group.

Gov. Warner and Dean Kamen of Manchester, N.H., were presented with the honorary doctor of humane letters. Kamen, an accomplished inventor and physicist, founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools and their communities. VCU hosts the FIRST Robotics competition for high school students, and the event has inspired students to pursue careers in science and technology.  

The university reported the following candidates for degrees:

College of Humanities and Sciences:  757

Office of Academic Affairs:  5

School of Allied Health Professions: 163

School of the Arts:  381

School of Business:  344

School of Dentistry:  104

School of Education:  206

School of Engineering:  102

School of Graduate Studies:  3

School of Medicine:  270

School of Nursing:  108

School of Pharmacy:  90

School of Social Work:  210

VCU Life Sciences:  31

TOTAL:  2774