Bob and Christine Stiller and Fern Tavalin Receive 2014 Honorary Degrees
Champlain College President David F. Finney conferred 520 associate and bachelor degrees to the largest graduating class in the College’s history on May 3 under a tent on Edmunds Field adjacent to Skiff Hall. More than 4,000 people attended the ceremony.
The College’s 136thUndergraduate Commencement presented honorary degrees to a nationally known creative educator Fern Tavalin, and two Vermont philanthropists, Bob Stiller, founder of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and his wife, Christine Stiller, president of the Stiller Family Foundation and Adventure Girls of VT.
Tavalin spoke about the history of the internet and creativity on behalf of the honorary degree recipients. She received a Doctor of Fine Arts honorary degree. Bob Stiller received a Doctor of Commerce honorary degree, and Christine Stiller will receive Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree.
The Stillers were honored in part for their support of the College through The Stiller Family Foundation. In 2012, the Foundation announced a major grant to Champlain to help establish the Robert P. Stiller School of Business and a permanent endowment to promote programs in Appreciative Inquiry and other positive psychology based business and community management approaches.
Marguerite Dibble ’12, founder of Birnam Wood Games in Burlington, offered the Alumni Welcome and Chelsea Hutching ’14, president of the Student Government Association delivered the Senior Address.
President David Finney delivered his signature “You” address to students offering up a long list of accomplishments of the Class of 2014 in the classroom, in the community and at play. This was Finney’s last commencement as President of the College. He began in 2005 and will retire onJune 30. His replacement, Donald J. Laackman of Chicago, will begin onJuly 1.
The College also marked the 50thanniversary of the school’s Alma Mater, composed by James Beams of Richmond, Vt., who wrote the music 1964. Beams, a professional opera performer and music educator, perform theAlma Materwith Registrar Becky Peterson and senior Marketing major Kayla Hedman of Griswold, Conn., at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Here is a list of Vermont graduates:
Alburgh:Corinne R. Russin;Arlington:Ariel C. Grover;Barre:Zoe Bailey, Alicia M. Browning, Kimberly A. Kiniry, Belma Micic;Barton:Patrick R. Butterfield, Samantha L. Ovitt;Bellows Falls:Ashley R. White;Bennington:Leonard A. Kelley III;Burlington:Sean P. Cross, Naw Esther Doh, Nathan R. Foltz, Nicholas Foss, Diem H. Huynh, Alexander Nicholas Kavanagh, Guadalupe C. Linarte Cano, David W. Lowder, Tia M. Martin, John R. Martone, April M. Patterson, Taylor P. Peet, Natasha L. Pratt, Samuel C. Rogers, Casey D. Terhune, Elyse R. Terricciano, Sophia R. Zeigfinger; Cabot:Meriah R. Nunn;Calais:Kenneth Urkiel-taylor Nosek;Cambridge:Jodi R. Fontaine;Charlotte:Colin Shehadi Frost, Jobeth N. Mahan-Tenney, Arles Rudolf Netherwood-Schwesig, Remy J. Vogler;Chester:Kyle G. Douglas;Colchester:Marcia E. Abdelrahman, Thomas P. Darby, Edith A. Gingras, Nicholas A. Goodreau, Jennifer L. McQueen, Michael O'Dell, Abby R. Pepper, Rebecca Jane Ronga, Kayla J. Seidel;Derby:Angela Lynn Squillante;East Concord:Josiah H. Sweeney;East Corinth:Michael A. Eaton;East Fairfield:Megan E. Trudell;Enosburg Falls:Nathan James Vaillancourt;Essex Junction:Scott E. Elliott, Hassania Ettouzar, Golrang Garofano, John M. Kinghorn, Kenneth P. Labounty, Elise M. Martin, Amber L. Morgan, Bryce Bonner Murphy, Matthew D. Paradee, Aldin Puzic, Stephanie Anne Reed, Robert B. Roach, III;Fairfax:Kelly J. Crawford, Sandra L. Earle, Michelle A. Ovitt;Fairfield:Benjamin Cullen, Jesse W. Mode;Grand Isle:Raymond A. Perkins, James H. Wicks;Groton:Lydia Kate Hill;Hardwick:Tod J. Delaricheliere, Linda J. Mallo;Hartland:James S. Courtney;Highgate Center:Dylan M. Rainville;Hinesburg:Chloe L. Cartularo, Allan R. Dunn, Allen A. Fortin, Lee A. Martin, Sarah L. Patten, Carly E. Svetlik;Huntington:Naomi M. May;Jeffersonville:Meg Shamp;Jericho:Caitlin L. Ackerman, Samantha Frances Brehm, Nick Scott Hayes, Darren J. Kennedy, Kate E. Sharrow;Johnson:Karen Leigh Blanchard Smith;Leicester:Ashlie Morgane Delphia;Manchester Center:Chelsea R. Charbonneau;Middlebury:Louis. Lessing;Milton:Carissa Mae Jamison, Jason E. Lestage, Ryan A. Meunier, Michael J. Trombly;Montpelier:John L. Donovan, Matthew P. Hollar, Evan A. Tétreault;Moretown:Samuel J. Siegel;Newport Center:Katelyn Ali Meunier;North Ferrisburgh:Ashlie M. Allen;Northfield:Nathan A. Smith;Orleans:Nicholas R. Bernier;Plainfield:Miranda J. Goulette;Putney:Benjamin F. Wilson;Randolph Center:Kaitlin Noel Dimmick;Richmond:Chelsea J. Carpenter;Rutland:Jacob T. Caggige;Saint Albans:David J. Ladouceur II, Harlie Marie Palmer;Shelburne:Crystal A. Beaulieu, Taylor J. Carroll, Victoria A. Garrison, John R. Hendrickson, Jesse Baron Lash;Sheldon:Derrick A. LaMarche;Shrewsbury:Olana Marie Mangine;South Burlington:Christopher C. Bresnahan, Ariel R. Crady, Cameron M. Crooks, Zinfira I. Gafurova, William D. Gerns, Jr., Alex Marcel Holcomb, Kasey Jarvis, Susan E. Jones, Jonathan J. Knapp, Jessica C. Lowell, Christopher D. Mendenhall, Kendra Nicole Pillsbury, Evan Scott Posner, Evan J. Sehr;Springfield:Silas E. Farrar;Stowe:Jason Eric Kirchick;Stratton:Robert A. Sheridan III;Swanton:Brian D. Manning, Jr., Shannon E. McMahon, Joshua T. Metayer;Underhill:Thomas R. Francis, Colby A. Lahaie, Sophy E. Walsh;Waitsfield:Veronica Elizabeth Brynga, William Logan Cooke;Warren:Tess M. Cristen;Waterbury:Carol-Ann Labbe-Thibouthot;Westford:Casey L. Hanlon;White River Junction:Nicholas A. Pearson, Braedon S. Vail;Williamstown:Kristen M. Ziter;Williston:Brittany P. Ferdinand, Natalia Macrii Handy, Stephanie J. Owen, Jamie L. Paya;Woodstock:Alexandria Joesette Allen, Eric Thon Miles.
Champlain 11th Hooding & Commencement onMay 9to feature Janine Allo
BURLINGTON - A commencement and hooding ceremony for Champlain College Master's degree candidates will be heldFriday, May 9, on the lawn of Roger H. Perry Hall.
Some 112 students will participate in the ceremony. Janine M. Allo, Ed.D., former president of marketing firm Kelliher Samets Volk in Burlington, and faculty member in the Champlain College MBA program, will give the keynote speech. The alumni welcome will be by Lanaya Sandberg G'13, G'14.
Tickets are required for attendance onMay 9. The ceremony will begin at10 a.m.Seating in the tent for guests will open at9 a.m.The ceremony should conclude around11:30. Immediately following the ceremony, a reception will be held in the IDX Student Center.
About Champlain College
Since 1878, Champlain College has provided career-focused education to students from its hilltop campus in Burlington, Vt. Champlain's distinctive educational approach embodies the notion that true learning only occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain offers traditional undergraduate and online undergraduate courses, along with online certificate and degree programs and eight master's degree programs. Champlain offers study abroad programs at its campuses in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review's The Best 378 Colleges: 2014 Edition. Champlain was named a "Top-Up-and-Coming School" by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges and is ranked in the top tier of 2013 Regional Colleges in the North. For more information, visitwww.champlain.edu