'Courage'

E&H President Rosalind Reichard speaks during ceremony. Seated at right is Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.

By: David s. Cowart | TriCities.com
Published: May 10, 2009

ABINGDON, Va. – “Don’t forget where you come from,” U.S. Sen. Jim Webb. D-Va., told the Class of 2009 at Emory & Henry College on Saturday.
Webb reminded the students of how fortunate they are and spoke about the importance of not wasting their opportunities.
“Time is like money you never get back,” Webb said during his keynote address to 205 graduates.
In the final part of his address, Webb told a story about his wife, Hong Le Webb, who came to America and graduated from the University of Michigan although neither of her parents spoke English. He reminded the Emory & Henry graduates that only in America could a story like that happen.
Graduate Joe Boggs of Blountville, who received a degree in interdisciplinary studies, said that was the part of the speech he would remember most.
Along with Webb at the commencement was the Japanese ambassador to the United States, Ichiro Fujisaki, and his family.
Webb is working to reform the nation’s prison system and is interested in using the Japanese model as a framework to make American prisons more efficient.
Also Saturday, Webb received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the school.
The graduates also heard from Rosalind Reichard, president of the college, who declared that the theme she had chosen for the class of 2009 was “Courage.” Reichard spoke of the courage students showed in facing the challenges presented to them in their time at Emory & Henry.
Angaza N. Thom, who received two degrees, in chemistry and biology, delivered the senior oration. His speech was titled, “How College Has Changed My Life.” Thom, who is from Brooklyn, N.Y., talked about the challenges he faced and overcame during his time in college. He commissioned his classmates to reach as high as they can in life no matter how difficult things might seem.
dcowart@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2512

'Courage'

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