June 2014 News Archive

Members of the Union community and guests of the Steiner family of Pacific Palisades, Calif., gathered at the Henle Pavilion Saturday to dedicate two fine art limited edition bronze works.

Leslie and David Steiner donated “The Shade” and “Age of Bronze” sculptures in honor of their daughters, Courtney, a member of the Class of 2012, and Rachel ’14, who took part in Sunday’s Commencement. Both majored in art history and served as photo editors of Concordiensis. 

First, let me thank Richard Harris, Student Forum President. Diane McMullen and the many students who shared their musical gifts with us, the wonderful student speakers, Professor Andrew Burkett – our faculty speaker, Emily Tong, and the members of the Commencement Committee who are listed in the program.

I want to thank our honorary degree recipients – Dr. Birx and Dr. Fine – for being with us today.  You have affirmed our belief in the importance of making a difference in the world.  We are proud to count you as members of our Union community.

Please thank again our student speaker, David Masterson, for his compelling affirmation of what is so special about Union.

As we reflect on our time at Union, I think I speak for all of us when I say the feeling is bittersweet.  Though we are excited for the next adventure, we can’t help but feel some sadness at leaving this place.  Whether its Dawn’s smile greeting us in Dutch, hanging out in the gardens, or even Professor Berk threatening to “condemn us to the depths of academic hell,” we know what we will miss; this infectious spirit of camaraderie, this indelible sense of belonging, the knowledge that we are

Thank you Dr. LoGiudice for that very kind introduction.  To Dr. LoGiudice and her fellow faculty members who have guided these graduates for four inspiring years; to President and Mrs. Ainlay; Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mark Walsh, board member Dr.

David Masterson peered out at 500 of his classmates about to receive their diplomas Sunday morning and spoke of the challenges and possibilities that await them.

“The beautiful thing about this moment is the tantalizing sense of possibility,” said Masterson, a theater major with a minor in history from Clifton Park, N.Y. "We have spent our four years discovering what moves and inspires us, and now we are poised to share ourselves with the world.

VALEDICTORIAN

Elliot Jason Feld  B.S. 

  summa cum laude

SALUTATORIAN

Catherine Elizabeth Ziac  B.A. 

  summa cum laude

Farangizi Abdurazokzoda  B.A. 

  magna cum laude

Aimee Patricia Adamski  B.S. 

Alyssa Rose Adler  B.A. 

Azmi Alaa Ahmad  B.S. BG 

Chelsea LuAnn Aitken  B.S. 

  summa cum laude

Hometown: Centerport, N.Y.

Major: Biology and Music Interdepartmental Major - Leadership In Medicine (LIM) Program

Activities: Writing Center tutor, Honor Council member, Breazzano House student rep, Ellis Hospital volunteer, Jazz Band, MEDLIFE Fundraising chair

Favorite class: Cognitive Neuroscience with Professor Weisse

Hometown: Niskayuna, N.Y.

Major: Economics

Minor: Russian

Hometown: Clifton Park, N.Y.
Major: Theater
Minor: History

Activities: Senior Class president, Co-president of the Omicron Delta Kappa Society, lead actor in Theater Department productions, contributing writer for the Concordiensis, Senior Class Gift Committee