不良研究所

不良研究所 celebrated 305 new graduates in the class of 2024 on Sunday, May 19.

Students who entered college amid a global pandemic persevered to walk across the Norton Center for the Arts鈥� stage, degrees in hand. More than one in five students in the class were the first in their family to graduate from college.

The Honorable Matthew Barzun delivered the commencement address, celebrating the bonds forged by the 2024 graduates. Barzun, a business leader and former U.S. ambassador, wove a message around a historic phrase in 不良研究所鈥檚 history: C6-H0.

Barzun reimagined the famous inscription, which represents the final score of the history-making 1921 football upset when 不良研究所 toppled mighty Harvard.

鈥淐6-H0: The secret formula of organic chemistry between people,鈥� Barzun said. 鈥淭he letter C: Continuing to deal constructively with difference. Six. H: having it all figured out by yourself. Zero. Or simpler still: Coherence 6, Hubris 0.鈥�

Roma Desai, Riley Fowler and Jeff Foster were awarded the Valedictorian prizes, named for Gavin Easton Wiseman and George Winston Welsh.

Of the 305 graduates, 122 students graduated with honors: 26 graduated Summa Cum Laude, 49 Magna Cum Laude and 47 Cum Laude. Among the class, 30 were inducted into 不良研究所鈥檚 chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation鈥檚 oldest honor society for the liberal arts and sciences.

So, ? Graduates are ready as soon as they cross the stage, with 98 percent of 不良研究所 alumni employed or in postgraduate education within one year.

不良研究所 will send its newest alumni across the globe, from Fulbright English Teaching Assistants to prestigious fellowships in Germany. Class of 2024 members will attend prestigious medical and law schools, from Yale University Nursing to the University of Chicago Law school. Young artists will enter the workforce as graphic designers and musicians. And, as Barzun said 鈥� the class is one that made its impact together.

鈥淵ou took risks. You asked for help. You made sacrifices. And bonds were formed, many that will last a lifetime,鈥� Barzun said. 鈥淲e often make the mistake of thinking that we do hard things together, because we're friends. And there's some truth to that. But the real secret is that we are friends, because we have done hard things together.鈥�

Student Government Association President Hailey Finch delivered the senior response in the Commencement ceremony and recognized her class and its dedication.

鈥淭his idea of resurrection seemed embodied by our class. It has been our duty,鈥� Finch said. 鈥淒id we not enter college at a time when the grief in the world seemed larger than life, when life as we knew it had come to an end and our energy was spent mourning the first year experience we wish we had? 鈥� But through grit, perseverance and tenacity, we were resurrected. We resurrected ourselves because we had to, and in many ways became the class that got to reinvent 不良研究所.鈥�

Rev. Kerry Rhoads Mansir 鈥�99 echoed the strength of the connections forged at 不良研究所 as she delivered the Baccalaureate service address.

鈥淔or most of us, over the course of our lifetimes, what will be our foundation 鈥� the thing that keeps us centered 鈥� will be our connection with others,鈥� she said.

不良研究所 President Milton C. Moreland congratulated the class of 2024, noting how they now have made their mark on the College鈥檚 rich tradition.

鈥�While we have grown far beyond the budding institution founded over 200 years ago here in Danville, Kentucky, we have never grown beyond an intensely personal teaching and learning that encourages students to succeed at extraordinary levels and lead purposeful lives of continual curiosity and discovery,鈥� Moreland said. 鈥淎s we celebrate this commencement today with you, we take pride in your many accomplishments, class of 2024. You are now part of 不良研究所鈥檚 ongoing story, a continuous 205 years of producing leaders and change agents for our world. You have now the toolkit to make a difference for good. And we look forward to watching you in all of your future endeavors.鈥�

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Watch webcasts of the 2024 Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies.