- COMMENCEMENT 2009
- COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM
- SPEAKER REMARKS
- CITATIONS FOR MEDALISTS
- CITATION FOR MEDALIST AND SPEAKER
- IMAGES FOR MEDIA
FOR COMMENCEMENT INQUIRIES
Lillian Appel, Commencement Coordinator
212.854.2024
lappel@barnard.edu
ABOUT COMMENCEMENT
commencement 2009
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON URGES GRADUATES TO CONDUCT DIGITAL DIPLOMACY AND BE SPECIAL ENVOYS OF IDEALS
PepsiCo CEO, Renowned Art Historian, and Juvenile Justice Attorney Receive Barnard Medal of Distinction
May 18, 2009, New York, NY – The pealing of chapel bells signaled the opening of Barnard College's 117th Commencement ceremony on the South Lawn of Columbia University this cool and breezy Monday. Faculty and trustees of the college led the procession of approximately 585 members of the Class of 2009, Barnard's largest graduating class to date, to their seats under crisp white tents.
President Debora L. Spar opened the ceremony, welcomed the graduates, and introduced Anna Quindlen '74, Chair of the Board of Trustees, who offered the trustees" greetings and congratulations. "You are Barnard women and believe me, it doesn't get any better than that," she said, concluding her remarks by adding, "See you on page one, and on Air Force One." | Read More...
Commencement Confessions
"It was amazing to get to look out and see all these women who have inspired me over these four years. Barnard is a place where you can be challenged and inspired at the same time and that's really been because of the professors and students. It was a great year; we're the largest class ever. It was a beautiful moment and I was happy to be able to share it with so many people I love. I'm really excited for all of us. We're going to do really great things. It was a nice day to celebrate that."
– Sarah Besnoff '09 (Political Science)
"I feel really great. Barnard was the best gift I have ever been given. Secretary Clinton was amazing – it was really a privilege to have her as our speaker. For me, [today has been] really just festive and joyful – a great celebration to end a great time at Barnard."
– Julia Bloch '09 (Dance and Religion)
"I've not been this moved in a long time. To see the quality of student that's graduating from Barnard today, it warms my heart. All of the speeches were spectacular. When I graduated, Secretary of State Albright spoke to my class; to see Secretary Clinton speaking to my Barnard sisters today just made it that much more special."
– Binta Brown ‘95
"After today's ceremony, I feel really inspired. Maybe yesterday I felt a little more confused and anxious. But I think President Spar was right on when she said that this economy will force us to step outside of our comfort zones and it will force us to be more creative with what we want to do, instead of just looking for that secure job that might have been available a year ago. It's forcing us to consider joining AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps or moving to Indonesia and teaching English. It's forcing us to be better people, I think."
– Inga Thiessen '09 (Political Science)
"I feel so great. To me, the ceremony was all about empowerment of women, which is so much of what Barnard is about. I'm just really excited to be part of this institution and its network."
– Kateri Benjamin '09 (Psychology)
"It's been such a surreal experience. I feel so proud to be a part of such an amazing class full of so many accomplished women. I'm just very blessed and I'm glad I've been able to spend some of the best four years of my life here at Barnard."
– Kristine Hassan '09 (Biology)
"I'm in disbelief. It's surreal. I'm going to really miss Barnard."
– Suchita Varhade '09 (Neuroscience and Behavior)
"I'm feeling very, very happy because [my daughter] has finished her degree. A successful stage has been completed today, even though the future is ahead. I hope that with her Barnard education she will be successful in her life."
– Shakuntala Varhade (parent of Suchita Varhade '09)
"I'm sure a couple of weeks from now it will hit me, but right now I'm just in a daze. I almost teared up at Sarah Besnoff's speech, which I never do. Hillary's speech was great – it empowered us to look beyond our everyday lives to try and make a difference, which I think is very important. And President Spar really summed up what we're facing right now as we're graduating."
– Justine Lia '09 (Psychology and Sociology)
"I'm excited that I graduated but also really sad because I'm going to miss my friends. I'm excited for the future. I have a job set up in Boston – I'm going to work for a lab at the Massachusetts General Cancer Center."
– Anna Gilman '09 (Biology)
"I feel overwhelmed. Happy, sad, everything. I thought the speeches were really good. Hillary was awesome."
– Anna Kessler '09 (American Studies)
Watch a video of the ceremonies