UH grads embark on new beginning
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
Graduation is a time of new beginnings and new challenges, more than 1,000 students were told yesterday during spring undergraduate commencement exercises at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Commencement keynote speaker Richard Parsons knows a lot about new beginnings. On Friday, the AOL Time Warner chairman and chief executive officer faced a group of angry shareholders in Virginia who have lost 75 percent of their shareholder value. Last year he succeeded Gerald Levin as CEO of the media conglomerate that grew during the boom years of the Internet bubble.
Michelle Talamanco and boyfriend Ryan Wilson checked out photos that Talamanco's father took yesterday at the University of Hawai'i's spring undergraduate commencement exercises. Talamanco majored in social work.
AOL chairman Richard Parsons, left, told graduates that commencement marks their beginning as "full-fledged citizens of the world," while UH Chancellor Peter Englert praised them for their commitment to higher education.
"Intellectually, you're in a different place from where you were four years ago," said Parsons, who attended the University of Hawai'i from 1964 to 1968. "You know a lot more ... or at least you've been able to fool the faculty into thinking that you do.
"This commencement marks your beginning as full-fledged citizens of the world" — and as full-fledged debtors as the clock on their student loans starts ticking, said the 55-year-old Parsons.
"Remember, one of the reasons that this is called a commencement: Tomorrow, you commence repaying your student loans," he said.
Graduates filled the floor of the Stan Sheriff Center dressed in the traditional black cap and gown to a packed arena filled with proud relatives and friends, arms full of lei and flowers. Many graduates added their own flair for the unique by decorating their caps. Graduates from the College of Education attached bright red apple stickers. Graduates from the dental hygiene school pasted giant paper cut-outs of a tooth. Some had messages, others smiley faces. Two students had balloon art attached to their caps.
Peter Englert, University of Hawai'i-Manoa chancellor, praised all the graduates for their commitment to higher education.
Also at this year's graduation, the university replaced its traditional ceremonial staffs used in processions with two designed and built by Hawaiian Art Studio students. The presentation of the ceremonial staffs came with its own rite as Hawaiian studies students chanted and prayed in Hawaiian during the graduation.
The ko'o male symbol represents knowledge and humility, and the female staff represents empowerment and wisdom. They will be used as new symbols of authority in future ceremonies.
"The timing falls in line with the strategic plan that was approved six months ago," Englert said. "The plan calls for transforming the university to a place that celebrates the uniqueness of Hawaiian culture. They are symbolic demonstrations of the Native Hawaiian voice in the global context."
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.
