May 17 Commencement – Article and Photo Slideshow

More than 500 graduates walked across the stage to celebrate the completion of their degrees during the May 17 Commencement Ceremony at Delaware State University’s Alumni Stadium.

For images from the Commencement weekend, click on the below link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48216028@N03/sets/72157653058716985/show

Because DSU’s Finals Week just ended on Friday, May 8, the spring semester 2015 grades and the final graduation totals will not be finalized until the coming week.

The Commencement Ceremony, held outdoors  at the University’s Alumni Stadium amid alternating moderate to light rain, was presided over by DSU President Harry L. Williams. Also in attendance were U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, DSU Board of Trustees Chairman David Turner, as well as a number of other Board of Trustees members and elected state officials.

The 2015 Commencement marked the first visit by a former head of state to the DSU campus. His Excellency John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor, a former two-term president of Ghana, was the keynote speaker. President Kufuor, who has continued in his post-presidential years to work on the issues of food security, hunger and poverty, as well as climate change, told the Class of 2015 that the time has come for their generation to aspire to leadership that would be globally transforming.

“You can only do this when you join and associate with forces that seek the ultimate good of all humanity,” President Kufuor said. “Hunger, poverty, disease, deadly migratory voyages, social and economic deprivation and inequalities anywhere and everywhere in the world, especially in the least developed countries and conflict areas, should be of concern to you.”

The former head of state noted that the global society will need their sharpened observation and critical faculties in the long term management of world issues.

“Wherever you will find yourselves – whether in politics, business, industry, medicine, law, agriculture, academia or whatever – you will be required to play your roles with clarity of vision, a strong sense of mission and conviction, focus, consummate knowledge of not only your respective nations, but the world at large, so as to add real value to the quality of life of humanity as a whole,” President Kufuor said.

The University presented President Kufuor with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree.

Dr. Williams also presented Presidential Academic Excellence Awards to four graduates, all of whom maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout their undergraduate years:

• Chelsea Kimbler, a psychology major from Seaford, Del.
• Kacie Minner, an agriculture major from Harrington, Del.
• Rebecca Pugh, a political science major from Leipsic, Del.
• Leah Williams, a management major from Cheltenham, Md.

The 2015 May Commencement was unique because the Presidential Leadership Award was also presented to the above Ms. Williams, marking the first time that a graduate won both presidential awards. Ms. Williams – who plays nine musical instruments – served as a student conductor and band director in the DSU Approaching Storm Marching Band as well as other band groups. She was also the founder and president of the newly established Christian group F.O.R.C.E. (Focusing on Renewing Christ-like Existence).

Among the five doctoral degrees awarded Sunday, Leon Taleh of the Central African country of Cameroon was the first-ever doctoral product of the DSU Optics Program. He was presented with a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Optics.

The youngest graduate was Ms. Hala Link of Dover, Del. The 19-year-old earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

The oldest graduate was 72-year-old Mr. Ronald Spriggs of Dover, who received a bachelor’s degree in social work.

With the Class of 2015 (which includes graduates from the December 2014 Commencement as well as the May 17 graduation), the institution has surpassed the 20,000 mark of four-year diplomas and above that have been awarded in the 124-year history of Delaware State University.