Pine Manor College Celebrates Graduates
At Commencement Ceremonies

Pine Manor College celebrated the graduation of 97 students at its 93rd commencement ceremony outdoors on its Chestnut Hill campus on Sunday, May 15, 2005, before a gathering of more than a thousand family members, friends of the College, and alumnae. Honorary doctorate degrees were conferred on television and documentary producer Callie Crossley ; education scholar Maconda Brown O'Connor '50 ; the chair of S&P Syndicate Public Company Ltd. of Bangkok and noted restaurateur Patara Raiva Sila-On '61 ; and the founding chair of the Lillian Vernon Corporation, Lillian Vernon.

In her remarks to the graduating seniors, Pine Manor College President Gloria Nemerowicz described the occasion as a celebration of PMC's learning community of women and the completion of a task done well. "Within a week of your coming to Pine Manor College the horrible tragedy of September 11 unfolded and suddenly everything changed. We all came to realize how precious human life is and how interdependent we all are. In the weeks and months that followed, we realized how vital our mission of tolerance and inclusivity is, and the compelling need for compassion for others."

Honorary degree recipient Callie Crossley reminded the graduates that humility is an essential element of character and that those at PMC who provided nurturing and mentoring gave the best gift of all by opening the doors of possibility . "You are truly unique as graduates of a women's college," she concluded. "You have found your own voice, you have been given an opportunity to develop both vision and values and now you need to make your mark on the world."

Lillian Vernon spoke of the opportunity for women in the business and financial sectors and called upon the graduates to "promise to never give up. Always strive to reach your dreams. Always move forward. Always be focused."

Degrees were awarded in Biology; Business Administration; Child Care Programs; Communication; English; History and Culture; Individualized Music; Liberal Studies; Psychology; Social and Political Systems; Visual Arts, and Visual Arts/Psychology.

Pine Manor College is rated first in diversity in the nation among BA liberal arts colleges by US News & World Report's America's Best Colleges. Founded in 1911, PMC is a private,four-year liberal arts college dedicated to preparing women for lives of inclusive leadership and social responsibility in their workplaces, families, and communities.