Savoring the memories at Commencement The day that more than 2,500 students -- and even more parents -- had been waiting for finally came. Nearly 10,000 people shared in the tradition and excitement of the University's 142nd Commencement May 16 in Brookings Quadrangle. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton awarded the degrees in the ceremony, which started at 8:30 a.m. Of the 2,502 candidates, 1,379 were undergraduate and 1,123 were graduate and professional. There were 429 doctoral candidates, including 71 for the doctor of philosophy degree from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences; nine for the doctor of science degree from the Henry Edwin Sever Graduate School of Enginering & Applied Science; 242 for the juris doctoris degree from the School of Law; and 107 for degrees from the School of Medicine. For the first time, Commencement was broadcast live on the Internet at commencement.wustl.edu. Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state, gave the Commencement address. She urged each of the graduates to use the knowledge he/she had gained at Washington University "to be more than a consumer of liberty, but also a defender and an enricher of it." She told the graduates to be "doers, not drifters," and "to live life boldly, with largeness of spirit and generosity of heart." Albright was sworn in as the 64th secretary of state on Jan. 23, 1997, becoming the first female to hold the post and the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. Accomplishments during her tenure include the expansion and modernization of NATO and its successful campaign to reverse ethnic cleansing in Kosovo; the promotion of peace in Northern Ireland and the Balkans; the reduction of nuclear dangers from Russia; and the expansion of democracy in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Honorary degrees also were awarded at Commencement. In addition to Albright, who received a doctor of humanities, the other honorary degree recipients were: Herman N. Eisen, M.D., professor emeritus and senior lecturer in the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, doctor of science; Douglass C. North, Ph.D., Washington University's Spencer T. Olin Professor in Arts & Sciences and co-recipient of the 1993 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, doctor of science; Ozzie Smith, retired St. Louis Cardinals shortstop and holder of 13 Gold Gloves for his defensive skills, doctor of humanities; William P. Stiritz, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ralston Purina Co., doctor of humanities; and Blanche M. Touhill, Ph.D., professor emeritus of history and education and chancellor emeritus at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, doctor of humanities. Commencement began with the traditional academic procession into the Quad. Owen J. Sexton, Ph.D., professor emeritus of biology in Arts & Sciences, was the honorary grand marshal and led the procession. Sexton is a world-class wildlife biologist and ecologist. He has studied ecosystems throughout Central and Latin America and other parts of the world including Missouri, where his varied research interests include amphibians, reptiles, and the endangered collard lizard in the state's glades and prairies. In 1996, he was named director of the University's Tyson Research Center, the 2,000-acre oak-hickory forest and prairie in western St. Louis County. He served a three-year term as Tyson's director and has been conducting field research at Tyson since the 1960s. His research interests there have varied from reproduction of oak trees to snakes and deer. Approximately 125 alumni from the Class of 1953, celebrating their 50th reunion, marched in the opening procession. For the 23rd straight Commencement, the program began with music by The Mighty Mississippi Concert Band of St. Louis, under the direction of Dan Presgrave, director of the University Symphony Orchestra and University Wind Ensemble and lecturer in the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences. Karen Hetzler, who received a master of vocal performance degree, sang "America the Beautiful." Jason Green, president of the senior class, delivered the student Commencement greeting. Conferral of academic degrees followed, with the deans of each of the schools and Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor and dean of Arts & Sciences, assisting Chancellor Wrighton. After the conferral of degrees, Wrighton delivered his message to the Class of 2003. Nathan Ruggles, who received a master of vocal performance degree, concluded the ceremony by singing the "Alma Mater." After the ceremony, the University's schools held receptions for graduates and their guests. To view streaming video of Commencement 2003, click here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This article is based on "Savor the memories at Commencement," by Andy Clendennen, which originally appeared in the May 16, 2003, issue of the Record.