Schools

UK Ambassador: Connecticut College Students Will Step Up To Meet Challenges [VIDEO]

Louis B. Susman expresses confidence in 440 graduates of the Class of 2012

 

suggested that ’s Class of 2012 is anxious about its future, but said he is confident the graduates and their generation worldwide are stepping up to meet challenges.

Susman, who has been the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom since 2009, also saw his daughter graduate from Connecticut College in 1984. He said the 437 students graduating with bachelor of arts degrees and three students graduating with master of arts degrees have benefited from an exceptional education.

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“Rather than teaching you how to answer the question, Connecticut has taught you how to ask it,” said Susman. “And that’s exactly what we need in the world today.”

Susman said the class is graduating into a highly interconnected world. He said things such as financial collapses, terrorism, and environmental catastrophes do not respect national borders but rather have wide-ranging effects across different nations. He said neglecting the world’s poor will only worsen such problems, and encouraged the attendees to follow their dreams but also strive to improve the world.

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“You have an important part to play,” said Susman. “And it’s interesting, everywhere your generation is accepting responsibilities beyond anybody’s expectations.”

Brenner Adam Green, of Lisbon, was the senior class speaker. Green said he came to Connecticut College “with a lot of internal homophobia” as a result of uncertainty over who he was. He thanked his cross-country running teammates for respecting him when he told them he was gay, and measured off his own personal college journey in the thousands of miles he has run while at the school.

“Today I am a confident leader and man, and have the college, my friends, and my loving family to thank for that,” he said.

Leo Higdon, president of Connecticut College, asked the class to remain connected to the college. He said the students’ education has prepared them for the challenges they will face and said they will earn respect at their jobs as long as they work hard.

“You will always continue to learn,” said Higdon.

Jillian Claire Marshall, of Ledyard, was one of only three Master of Arts degrees handed out.

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