Colorado's Udall Speaking at Williams Convocation
 Colorado Sen. Mark E. Udall will also be presented a Bicentennial Medal. |
Morton O. Schapiro, after a nearly decade at Williams, will instead be greeting students from his new post as president of Northwestern University in Chicago. Schapiro stepped into his new position on Sept. 1 and will be inaugurated in October.
The college has retained a national search firm to seek out a new leader "with a passionate belief in the value of a residential liberal arts college" after a series of forums with staff, faculty, students and community members. If successful, the class of 2010 may be bid farewell by a new president.
They will get to hear from a distinguished graduate of the college at the fall convocation, set Saturday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. in Chapin Hall. The event formally launches the academic year.
U.S. Sen. Mark E. Udall, D-Colo., class of 1972, will speak on "Attitude and Altitude." The senator is nationally recognized for his commitment to addressing challenging environmental issues, including his early support for alternative energy.
Udall, son of the late longtime Arizona congressman Morris "Mo" Udall, was elected to the Senate in 2008 after representing Colorado's 2nd Congressional District for five terms, and one term in the state's General Assembly.
He spent 20 years with the Colorado Outward Bound School, beginning in 1975, and was the organization's executive director from 1985 to 1995. In the Senate, he serves on the Armed Services and the Energy and Natural Resources committees, and the Special Committee on Aging. He also chairs the National Parks Subcommittee.
Udall is an advocate for the environment and development of alternative fuels. He has also championed health care for workers and retirees from the nation's nuclear weapons complex and consumer protection against abusive and predatory credit card companies.
 Mika Brzezinski, class of 1989, and three others will also receive medals. |
In addition to Udall, those receiving medals will include the Denver Juvenile Court Judge Karen Ashby, class of 1979, a nationally recognized expert in matters of juvenile and family law; MSNBC "Morning Joe's" Mika Brzezinski, class of 1989, television news journalist and familiar anchor on NBC; Gary Fisketjon, class of 1976, editor and vice president at Alfred A. Knopf, and John F. Raynolds III, class of 1951, a speaker and writer who spent years with Outward Bound USA and who served in the Korean War with the first Underwater Demolition Unit deployed by helicopter, a tactic that would become a hallmark of the SEAL units created a decade later.
College Council co-Presidents Elizabeth Brickley and Michael Tcheyan also will welcome the graduating class. The ceremony will include introduction of the newest members of Phi Beta Kappa by Dean of the College Karen R. Merrill and the announcement of the winner of the Grosvenor Cup Award, given to the senior who has best demonstrated concern for the college community.
The convocation ceremony will be preceded by a processional. Following the ceremonies, there will be an all-campus picnic on the lawn of Paresky Center. The public is cordially invited to attend.
The Bicentennial Medalists will share their life stories in a panel discussion on Friday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall.
