Caps, gowns, honors

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 16, 2004 by Alicia Henrikson Capital-Journal

Carol Stone began college 10 years ago, but left because she didn't know what career path she wanted to take.

"Then, there was one day I was sitting at home making a label for a CD I made, and I realized if I could find something that incorporated art, design and computers, that's what I would want to do," Stone said.

Stone graduated Saturday with honors from Washburn University with a bachelor's degree in art. She shared her afternoon commencement exercise with about 215 other students graduating from Washburn's College of Arts and Sciences. The ceremony was in Lee Arena in the Petro Allied Health Center.

Washburn also held commencement exercises for the School of Applied Studies, School of Business, School of Nursing and the School of Law. Additionally, the university held commencement activities Friday night for master's degree candidates.

Dr. Jerry Farley, Washburn president, spoke to the graduates and a crowd of more than 1,000 people. He told graduates to seek out truth.

"You should find truth instead of being told what is truth," Farley said.

During his remarks, Farley focused on several points --- the main one being that education is important. Education allows you to synthesize, analyze and discuss information, and it is through that process that a person can discover truth, Farley said.

He talked about how universities defend the right to teach and people's right to learn.

"You are an educated citizen because society allows it," Farley said. "Education is the underlying foundation of the success of our society."

Farley also noted the debate over funding education in Kansas. Elected officials are attempting to balance educational needs and requests to reduce taxes with the funding of education.

"People support education, but they don't want to have to pay for it," he said. "Much like everybody wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die."

But Farley also told the graduates that they are leaders who need to face challenges with confidence and humbleness and inspire and guide people.

"You can lead because you are prepared to lead," he said. "You can think and choose your own path to success."

A native recognized

The university honored native Topekan and Washburn graduate Pamela G. Hollie during the College of Arts and Sciences graduation with an honorary doctor of humane letters.

Hollie has a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York. She worked as a journalist at The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. A senior fellow at the Prague Institute for Global Urban Development in Washington, D.C., Hollie is the former director of the Kraft General Foods Foundation and served five years as The Asia Foundation's representative to the Philippines and 10 Pacific island nations.

Hollie told the crowd that 50 years ago she attended kindergarten at Buchanan School, an all-black elementary school.

After the U.S. Supreme Court made its decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case, Hollie said she remembers her parents sitting her down to explain what had happened.

"I didn't understand most of it," she said. "But they did say if I'm prepared, I can do anything."

Hollie said Washburn played an important role in her extensive resume. However, when she began at the university in 1966, she wasn't sure if she wanted to be there. A tornado had ravaged the university that spring, uprooting trees and damaging several buildings.

"But there was still hope," Hollie said. "We didn't have all the resources we needed, but we had the Kansas can-do spirit."

Graduating sisters

Earlier in the day, two sisters graduated with bachelor's degrees in social work during the commencement exercise for the School of Applied Studies, School of Business and School of Nursing.

Laura McCarty-Snow, 34, and Bethany McCarty, 25, sported caps with "Big Sis" and "Lil' Sis" written on them.

"We wanted our family to be able to spot us," McCarty said.

The two said Saturday afternoon that they didn't plan to walk together in the commencement procession.

"We had a little bit of sibling rivalry. I'm older and I should finish before Bethany," said McCarty-Snow, who received her degree first on Saturday. "But it was great --- just a blessing. It has been nice to have all our family get together and for a happy occasion."

About 45 family members came to Kansas for the event, she said.

The two sisters will begin working on their master's degrees in social work at Washburn in about 10 days, McCarty said. They anticipate graduating in one year.

Alicia Henrikson can be reached

at (785)295-1192 or alicia.henrikson@cjonline.com.

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Laura McCarty-Snow, 34, right, gets a hug from her daughter, Hali, as her sister, Bethany, 25, left, looks on after graduating from Washburn University. The sisters both received degrees in social work.