VCU Honors Newest Graduates

By Tom Gresham

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., urged the spring graduating class at Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday to work to strike an improved economic balance in the United States.

Webb, who was sworn in as Virginia's 56th United States Senator in January, said previous generations of Americans could boast great accomplishments, such as creating a democracy, winning World War II and prevailing in the Cold War.

"Your generation's legacy – no smaller a task – should be that you restored basic fairness to the economic affairs of our nation," Webb said. "That you fought against the emergence of a class system in our precious democracy and that you rejected the greed that today is all too common in the boardrooms of America's corporations."

Webb said the degrees the graduates were receiving Saturday would provide them with an advantage toward achieving financial success. Evoking the current sacrifices of members of the U.S. military in Iraq, Webb asked graduates "to serve in one way or another."

"I hope you will never forget that with opportunity comes responsibility," Webb said. "Whatever happens in your lives, please make yourselves a promise – that you will always find a way to give something back – through service to your families, to your community and to your country."

Students received professional, graduate and undergraduate degrees during the ceremony at the Richmond Coliseum. The graduating class of 3,363 students represented 112 counties and cities across Virginia, 43 of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and 35 countries around the world.

VCU President Eugene Trani, Ph.D., told the graduates they were receiving a degree from a world-class institution.

"You are a microcosm of the tremendous scope and diversity of Virginia Commonwealth University," Trani said. "You represent the determination of our student body to fulfill their educational and career goals and the spirit of innovation that is found throughout VCU."

Trani particularly praised the graduates for the positive contributions they have made to neighboring communities, highlighting some recent student volunteer efforts.

"The list of ways that you – our students -- have given to the Richmond community is extremely long and diverse in scope," Trani said.

At the ceremony, Webb received an honorary doctor of humane letters. The award, which is VCU's highest form of recognition, acknowledges those who have made outstanding contributions to society through scholarship, humanitarianism, science, art and public service.

Also, Henry Becker, president of Qimondo North America; Sam Kornblau, Richmond real estate developer, and Baxter and Elaine Perkinson, long time supporters of VCU, were presented with the Edward A. Wayne Medal, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions or provided exemplary service to VCU.

Hugo Seibel, professor emeritus in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, and Carl Fischer, who served in several leadership positions at the VCU Medical Center, each received the Presidential Medallion for their extraordinary achievement in learning and commitment to the mission of VCU.