When Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler took the stage during the Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2013 on Saturday, May 11, he spoke of the persistence and successes of an American innovator, Robert Goddard.
A pioneer in the space industry, Goddard was continually criticized for his theories on space flight and rocketry early in his career. Despite the criticism, Goddard continued to work on his theories, and he eventually launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926.
As Gansler addressed the crowd, he noted that just like Goddard, there may be a time in the lives of Capitol’s newest graduates where their capabilities are doubted. And just like Goddard persevered and eventually succeeded in his endeavors, Capitol graduates will have to stay the course in the face of adversity and strive toward their goals.
“To succeed in your careers, you must ignore the limits placed on you by others,” Gansler said. “Only you can know your full potential.”
Gansler also noted the responsibility that falls on the graduates as they strive to meet their goals and find success in their lives.
“Only you can unlock your full potential,” Gansler said. “Remove any limits you place on yourself. You can go farther than others think, and even farther than you think.”
With those words, Gansler congratulated the graduating class and stressed how important they will be to the workforce.
“We need you in Maryland, and we need your work,” Gansler said. “Push beyond limits whenever you can.”
Prior to Gansler’s speech, Capitol president Dr. Michael T. Wood took the stage and spoke about the graduating Class of 2013. Dr. Wood noted that of the 192 total graduates, 70 received bachelor’s degrees, 113 received master’s degrees and nine received doctoral degrees.
“The world of work, citizenship and leadership is ready for you, and you are educated for that world,” Dr. Wood said. “Thank you for having let Capitol College help you to grow and succeed.”
The average age of Capitol’s bachelor’s graduates was 28, and ages ranged from 21 to 52. The most popular degree among bachelor’s graduates was electrical engineering, with 34 percent of the bachelor’s graduates receiving that degree.
The ages for graduating master’s students ranged from 22 to 62, and master’s students represented 22 states and the District of Columbia. Impressively, the average GPA among the graduating master’s students was 3.8, and 36 percent of the group graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
During the ceremony, nine students graduated with their Doctor of Science in Information Assurance degrees. The DSc program was created in 2010, and now has more than 100 students currently enrolled.
“Not only am I proud of your academic achievements, but I must also point out your excellence outside the classroom and textbooks,” Dr. Wood said. “We have consistently received kudos from government agencies like NASA and the National Security Agency, and from private companies, about your project work for them that comprised part of your practical, hands-on learning experiences with Capitol.”
After Dr. Wood’s speech, Dr. Donna Thomas, vice president for advancement, awarded the Avrum Gudelsky Memorial Scholarship to Previn Harris ’14. The Avrum Gudelsky Scholarship is the highest academic award the college bestows and is given annually to a rising senior.
Dr. Helen Barker, dean for the School of Business and Information Sciences, then presented the Marilyn and Seymour Levinson Award to Zachary Wisman for his excellence in the humanities and social sciences. Next, Dean Melinda Bunnell-Rhyne presented the Student Leadership Award to Karen Yarborough for her activity and leadership on campus during her Capitol career. Bunnell-Rhyne then presented the Student Service Awards to Marc Fruchtbaum and Jeremy Hedges, who both played instrumental roles in the founding and developing of the college’s Cyber Lab.
Finally, Dr. Vic Maconachy, vice president for academic affairs, presented the college’s faculty awards. The faculty awards for education were presented to Dr. Sandy Antunes for his role in creating new courses in the astronautical engineering degree program, and to Dr. Rosalie Evans for her continued dedication and leadership in the college’s humanities curriculum. The faculty award for service was presented to Hervé Francheschi and the faculty award for research was presented to Dr. Hong Yu.
Each Commencement ceremony is a celebration of the graduating class’s accomplishments and this year’s ceremony was particularly memorable with such distinguished guests and successful students.