1,435 Degrees Conferred During 83rd Year Spring Commencement

Linda Johnson	Kip Aber

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University conferred some 1,435 degrees at its 83rd year Spring Commencement Thursday, May 21, at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. Diplomas were presented during two ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Joining this year’s recipients on stage were student speakers Linda Johnson and Kip Aber.

Johnson, who spoke during the morning ceremony, is a business management major from Greenbelt, MD. She encouraged students to “take advantage of the opportunities and open doors you encounter.” Following graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s in human resources management at Catholic University while working at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

Aber, a non-traditional student, came to SU after spending many years performing a number of jobs, living in several countries and attending five other colleges and universities. An interdisciplinary studies major (focusing on history, political science and psychology), he praised SU and his experiences with the Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) Presidential Citizen Scholars Program for helping him decide to devote himself to public service. He recently was one of 150 selected from some 22,000 applicants to work for the U.S. State Department as a foreign service diplomat.

“It’s been a long road to graduation,” he said. “I’ve experienced a lot in my life. This school helped me understand what college is really about.”

Students from the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business and Samuel W. and Marilyn C. Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies graduated during the morning ceremony. Students from the Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts and Richard A. Henson School of Science and Professional Studies graduated in the afternoon.

This year’s President’s Distinguished Community Leadership Award honorees joined students during the afternoon ceremony. Area civic leader Henry H. Hanna, III received the individual award, while MAC, Inc. Executive Director Margaret “Peggy” Bradford accepted the organizational award on behalf of that agency.

Among undergraduates, 731 students received the Bachelor of Science, 442 the Bachelor of Arts, 66 the Bachelor of Social Work and 30 the Bachelor of Fine Arts. Graduate degrees included Master of Social Work—43; Master of Education—38; Master of Business Administration—33; Master of Arts—27; Master of Science—15; and Master of Arts in Teaching—10.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.