Debby Pinard of Montpelier aimed her shiny red digital camera toward the green door at the back of the huge auditorium, poised for the procession of her son Will Pinard, an award-winning microbiology and molecular genetics double major.
David Murray of Rochester, N.Y. had already bought his son Will Murray a Class of 2008 cap and alumnus tee shirt at the UVM Bookstore, before Will even received his degree in community development and applied economics.
And at the exit side of the stage, commencement speaker Fred "Chico" Lager installed a Ben & Jerry's ice cream cooler stocked with 300 ice cream bars – one of Vermont's best-known dairy products.
Each planned to add a personal touch to the 204th commencement of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) held Sunday, May 18 in the athletic complex.
When the last note of "Pomp and Circumstance" quieted and members of the Class of 2008 had been seated in their white plastic folding chairs by commencement marshals Thomas Patterson, Lynn Gregory and Amy Trubek, the college marshal Jonathan Leonard introduced the dean.
"You have every right to be immensely proud of your accomplishments. You have a first-class education from a first-class university!" began Rachel Johnson presiding over her last commencement.
The first class of university honors students graduated this year, as the Honors College was formed just four years ago. Three CALS graduates were among those winning prestigious university awards: Devon Vincent Bryan won the Class of 1967 Award for his leadership, academic competence and character; Ashley Fowler took the Elmer Nicholson Achievement Prize recognizing her promise for making major contributions in her field – community development and applied economics; Andrew Kiel won the Keith M. Miser Leadership Award for outstanding service to the university.
Guest speaker Fred "Chico" Lager '75, a member of CALS advisory board and former president and CEO of Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc., parodied the commencement speech by cobbling several purported canned graduation speeches gleaned from the Internet and substituting the word CALS where appropriate. "Be happy, go lucky and don't forget to floss," were his parting words. (See related story.) Then he dispensed an ice cream bar for every one of the graduate
With associate dean Josie Davis calling students to the stage, the College conferred degrees on 288 graduates including 35 master's degrees and four PhDs. Ushers were Leslie Barchard, Fran Kinghorn, Bonnie Tucker and Pam Clark. Event organizers were Rose Laba, Heather Palow, Tina Haskins and Jane Nevins. The celebration continued on campus at the Davis Center ballroom with refreshments and more picture taking. Will Pinard lined up for a photo with his college buddies. Will Murray wore his new UVM alum cap, tag and all. Chico Lager said he had a 2:30 tee time at the links - golf links, not Internet links, that is.