59,000 Parents, Family, Friends & Well_Wishers Were on Hand For Spring Graduation at University of Michigan on Saturday, April 28
UMICH Graduation Ceremony is Memorable Experience
'Big House' Welcomes Former President Bill Clinton With Standing Ovation
April 29, 2007
By: O. J. Cunningham
I had the good fortune to attend graduation ceremonies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this past weekend.
My son Christopher's fiancé (Kariann - Wedding is May 19th) marched in procession and was awarded with a Bachelor of Arts from the Program in Environment. Another good friend and Bay City Central classmate of Chris, Adam Hellebuyck, also marched and received his Masters in Education.
An estimated 59,000 parents, friends and well-wishers filled half of the "Big House" at the University of Michigan this past Saturday for Spring Commencement.
Former (42nd) President, Bill Clinton was on hand to receive an Honorary Degree and to give the Commencement Address to some 6,500 Michigan graduates. It was inspiring to have Clinton on hand for the Commencement exercise. Clinton got a standing ovation from both the students and the crowd when he entered the stadium.
Clinton told graduating University of Michigan students to use their degrees to better the world, which he said has become more and more unstable and unsustainable.
"You have to try to spend more time, more money, more effort making a world with more partners and fewer adversaries. Anytime you do anything to give a poor village a clean water well or help children get basic health care or offer an education in a poor country, you affect positive change," Clinton said.
It's been 42 years since I graduated from college. Not much has really changed. Pomp and Circumstance. Speakers. Excited graduates. Some hat-throwing.
It's really an impressive site to see all that young talent . . . so eager and so ready to burst into the real world.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it again. If you get the chance, don't pass it up.
Below: (Left) Analisa (Sister), Bruce (Father), and Kariann Mackie celebrate Kariann's graduation with a B.A. from the Program in the Environment. Ms. Mackie graduated from Bay City Central in 2003.
(Right) Kariann poses with Adam Hellebuyck (Bay City Central 2002), being honored for an M.A. (Masters) in Education which he will receive in August.
President Bill Clinton's Image is Played on the Big House, Big Screen Television.