Dr. John Toll, Governor Robert Ehrlich To Be Honored At Washington College's 222nd Commencement, May 16

Winner of Nation's Largest Undergraduate Literary Prize to be Announced

Chestertown, MD, April 1, 2004 — On Sunday, May 16, Washington College will honor the accomplishments of its outgoing president, Dr. John S. Toll, and Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. during the College's 222nd Commencement. Ceremonies will conclude with the presentation of degrees and academic awards, including the College's highest academic honor, the George Washington Medal and Award, and the Sophie Kerr Prize—the largest undergraduate literary prize in the nation, valued at $56,000 this year, the 37th year that the prize has been awarded.

Commencement begins at 10:30 a.m. on the campus lawn. In the event of rain, Commencement ceremonies will be moved indoors to Cain Gymnasium. Only ticket holders will be admitted to the Gymnasium and designated remote simulcast viewing sites.

While the College prepares to inaugurate its 24th president, Baird Tipson, next fall, it wishes farewell to Dr. John S. Toll, whose exemplary career in academia stretches over six decades. Under his tutelage for the past nine years, Washington College has achieved unprecedented levels of success—greater donor support, a larger applicant pool and increased selectivity, more resources for faculty research and teaching innovations, an expanded physical plant, a quadrupled endowment, and a merit scholarship program that supports more than half of its students. Paying tribute to the legacy he leaves to the College and to the renewed sense of vision and strength that he has imparted, the College will present to him the highest honor that it can give, making him an Honorary Doctor of Science from Washington College.

Joining Dr. Toll, the Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Governor of Maryland, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Law in recognition of his accomplishments during his 18 years in public service and policy as a state legislator, congressman, and now governor. A lifelong Maryland resident, Governor Ehrlich became Maryland's 60th governor on November 5, 2002—the first Republican to hold the office in 36 years. Raised in the working-class Baltimore suburb of Arbutus, the only son of Nancy and Bob Ehrlich, Sr., Governor Ehrlich attended the Gilman School in Baltimore, Princeton University and Wake Forest University Law School. He began his political career as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, serving from 1987 to 1995, and later spent eight years representing his district in Congress from 1995 to 2003.

Governor Ehrlich is known as a tireless crusader for fiscal responsibility and accountability, public safety, and improving education and the business climate of the State of Maryland. Recently, he has taken one of the strongest steps forward in Chesapeake Bay environmental policy—the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. Designed by the Governor and approved by the General Assembly at the conclusion of this past 2004 legislative session, the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund will tackle one of the Bay's biggest problems—overburdened municipal sewage systems. Hailed as “one of the most important pieces of Bay legislation in 20 years” by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Fund will finance, through an annual surcharge to state homeowners and businesses, much-needed upgrades to Maryland's sewage treatment plants, a move which will reduce nitrogen pollution—the most significant factor in the Bay's degradation—by 7 million pounds per year, cutting current levels nearly in half. For this and many other efforts to improve the lives of Maryland's citizens, Washington College honors the career of Governor Ehrlich this Sunday.

In addition to the awarding of honorary degrees, the Washington College Alumni Association will present the 2004 Alumni Citation for Excellence to songstress Susan Dunning Matthews '75 in recognition of her contributions to the performing arts as an accomplished lady of jazz. A gifted musician with three solo recordings to her credit, Matthews came to Washington College from Amstersdam, NY, drawn to the drama department and the small, intimate environment for learning. Here Matthews found a perfect stage from which to launch her singing career, performing with the College Chorus and with “Fat Shadow,” a college band playing original compositions arranged by classmates. Today, she performs in top jazz clubs and festivals around the world, most recently in concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and at the Saluzzo Music Festival in Italy. With her band “Guys and Doll,” she is a favorite guest artist at the annual Clifden Festival in Ireland, and has presented a program of American jazz and blues in schools in Hungary, by invitation of the Fulbright Commission. Among her performance credits are featured soloist with the Canadian Calgary Philharmonic, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Showcase, and the Seventh Annual Cabaret Convention held at New York City's Town Hall.

College Convocation Honors Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele, Welcomes Class Of 2007

Chestertown, MD, July 28, 2003 — On Thursday, August 21, 2003, Washington College will hold its annual convocation to welcome incoming students and to launch the new academic year. This year's guest of honor is Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele, who will address the Class of 2007 and receive an Honorary Doctor of Law. The ceremony will be held in the Cain Athletic Center Gymnasium starting at 2 p.m.
This fall, the College will enroll 360 first-time freshmen chosen from a record number of applicants, 2,114 in all. With an average high school GPA of 3.47 and the best class rank profile in the College's history (66 percent in the top 20 percent of their high school classes), this year's freshman class is one of the highest achieving on record.
The College is proud to honor Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele, the first African American in Maryland history to be elected to the position of lieutenant governor. Through his office, Steele works with the Maryland's congressional delegation and with state and local officials to promote and implement the administration's policies and initiatives.
The gubernatorial election of 2002 capped a lifetime of triumph against the odds and earning acceptance in places where many felt he did not belong. Born in Prince George's County, the son of a laundress, Steele attended Archbishop Carroll High School and Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a B.A. in international relations and served as student body president. Later he attended the Augustinian Friars Seminary at Villanova University, and he earned his J.D. in 1991 from Georgetown University Law School.
During the 1990s, Steele worked as a lawyer specializing in international law and financial transactions while rising through the ranks of the Republican Party in Prince George's County. In 2000 he was elected chair of the Maryland State Republican Party, becoming the first African American in the nation to head a state party. He also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee.
Steele has distinguished himself in many areas of public service, including politics, education and social reform. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Steele to serve on the Board of Visitors of the United State Naval Academy. Under Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, he served as a commissioner on the National Federal Election Reform Commission, and in 2001 served on the NAACP's Blue Ribbon Panel on Election Reform. Other affiliations include the Board of Visitors of the Hospice of the National Capital Area (2001), the Archdiocese of Washington Pastoral Council (1996-1999), and the Board of Trustees of the Johns Hopkins University (1981-1985).
Steele is a member of the Prince George's County Chapter of the NAACP and the Johns Hopkins University Society of Black Alumni. He has received several awards for his outstanding contributions to Maryland, including the African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County Outstanding Speaker Award, the NAACP Meritorious Achievement Award, the Knights of Columbus Maryland State Council Citizen of the Year Award, and the Prince George's County Board of Trade Citizen of the Year Award. Steele lives in Landover Hills, MD, with his wife Andrea and their two sons, Michael and Drew.

Washington College To Honor Actress Linda Hamilton, Alumnus Roy Ans At 221st Commencement, May 18

Chestertown, MD, April 21, 2003 — Actress Linda Hamilton will be the keynote speaker at Washington College's 221st Commencement on Sunday, May 18, 2003. In recognition of her accomplishments on stage and screen, Hamilton will receive an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts. Alumnus Roy P. Ans '63 also will be honored with the Alumni Citation of Excellence, presented by the Washington College Alumni Association in recognition of meritorious service to the College. Commencement begins at 10:30 a.m. on the campus lawn (in case of rain, Cain Gymnasium). The ceremony will be simulcast in the Tawes Theatre of the Gibson Performing Arts Center.
Among the highlights of this day are the announcement of the George Washington Medal and Award, the highest academic honor bestowed by the College, and the Sophie Kerr Prize—the largest undergraduate literary prize in the nation. A talented graduating senior will receive a check for $61,000 this year, the 36th year that the prize has been awarded.
On the stage and screen, Hamilton is an icon of feminine beauty, physical strength and psychological fortitude. Whether she appears in blockbuster films or independents, in psychological thrillers or romantic comedies, her acting resonates with intelligence and compassion. Best known for her performances the critically acclaimed Terminator movies, Hamilton has a deep connection to the Eastern Shore and to Chestertown. Born in Salisbury, Hamilton began acting at an early age, inspired by her parents' love for the arts. “My mother took some of her fake costume jewelry apart and made a crown for me. I swear I found myself. I'll never forget the joy of that crown,” she recalled from a childhood appearance as Sleeping Beauty. From those early experiences, she says, “acting decided to have its way with me. I loved it; I always loved it.”
After graduating high school in 1974, Hamilton enrolled in two acting classes at Washington College, where she performed in student productions and became involved with the Kent Players, a community theatre group. After two years, she decided to go to New York where she joined the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and studied Method Acting. After appearing in numerous student stage productions, she made her professional debut with a small role on the daytime television drama Search for Tomorrow. In 1979 she moved to California to pursue screen and television acting and got her first big break in 1984, when she played the part of Sarah Connor in James Cameron's The Terminator. From 1987 to 1989, she came to fame as Catherine Chandler in the popular television drama Beauty and the Beast. The show earned her Emmy, Golden Globe, and People's Choice Awards nominations, and in 1989, Hamilton returned to Washington College to receive an Alumni Citation at the College's 207th Commencement.
In 1990, Hamilton reprised her role as Sarah Connor in Terminator 2, and since has appeared in several movies for both screen and television, including A Mother's Prayer (1995), for which she received a Cable Ace Award and a Golden Globe nomination, Dante's Peak (1997)—earning her a Blockbuster Award—and the 1999 drama The Color of Courage for which she garnered a 2000 Golden Satellite Award.
Hamilton's latest projects include stage as well as screen, appearing in Final Questions, a play by Blanche Roberts, and in Lou Shaw's Worse Than Murder, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Between her stage projects she shot the short film Wholey Moses, which debuted this past February, and the television movie Silent Night, which aired in December. Currently, Hamilton and her children live in Malibu, CA.
Alumni Citation recipient Roy P. Ans, M.D. '63 spent much of his career ushering new babies into the world, and, since retirement from his ob-gyn practice, has been helping the College usher is a new era of science education. As a high school senior from Long Island, NY, Ans heard about a small college on Maryland's Eastern Shore from his biology teacher. He enrolled as a chemistry major and learned the approach to scientific investigation that put him on the path to success in the medical profession. He graduated with distinction, attended medical school at New York Medical College, and developed a highly successful obstetrics and gynecology practice in Florida.
Since his retirement in 1992, Ans has turned his energy toward his alma mater, playing an active role as a generous supporter of the College's summer undergraduate research program, as well as contributing to various capital projects. Twice he has chaired the Annual Fund, continues to help with admissions efforts in Florida, and has offered valuable insights as a member of the Visiting Committee. Now he is playing a leadership role in raising funds for the College's new science building. His dedication to Washington College is helping to raise a new generation of students committed to advancing scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity.

Congresswoman Connie Morella, Actor Larry Hagman To Be Honored At Washington College Commencement May 19th

Chestertown, MD, April 26, 2002 — Connie Morella (R-Md.) will be the keynote speaker at Washington College's 220th Commencement on Sunday, May 19, 2002. Congresswoman Morella will receive an Honorary Doctor of Public Service in recognition of her accomplishments in the public sector, and actor Larry Hagman, of Dallas fame, will be made an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts. Commencement begins at 10:30 a.m. on the campus lawn.

This Commencement will also see the awarding of the largest undergraduate literary prize in the nation—the Sophie Kerr Prize. A talented graduating senior will receive a check for $65,552 this year, the highest amount given in the 35-year history of the prize.

Congresswoman Morella represents Maryland's Eighth District and is currently serving her eighth consecutive term in the House of Representatives. Since first taking office in 1987, she has focused her legislative efforts on such issues as scientific research and development, education, the federal workforce, equity for women, the rights and needs of older Americans, international human rights and the environment. She chairs the Government Reform Subcommittee on the District of Columbia, has been a longstanding member of the Civil Service Subcommittee, and has been a long-term member of the House Science Committee, currently serving as a member of the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards. She has been a national leader in enhancing computer security, in promoting the use of telemedicine and educational technology, and in forming national recommendations to address the underrepresentation of women, minorities and persons with disabilities in the science and technology workforce.

Congresswoman Morella is the former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues and is recognized nationally for her work on children's rights, domestic violence and women's health, educational and economic equity issues. Last year, her legislation to expand the Violence Against Women Act was signed into law, and she has established herself as a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS in women with legislation focusing on research and prevention. Because of her work improving the lives of women, Congresswoman Morella was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame, and Glamour magazine honored her as a "Woman of the Year." Active in international and human rights issues, Congresswoman Morella was the first woman to chair the Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus. She also represented the United States at the U.N. Conference on Population and Development in Cairo and co-chaired the congressional delegation to the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.

Before her election to Congress, Congresswoman Morella served for eight years in the Maryland House of Delegates. From 1970 to 1985, she was a professor in the English Department of Montgomery College in Rockville, MD. A resident of Montgomery County for 44 years, she lives in Bethesda with her husband, Tony, a law professor. Together they have raised nine children, including her late sister's six children.

From bumbling astronaut to ruthless Texas tycoon, Larry Hagman's acting career has been long and diverse. Hagman began his career on the stage following in the footsteps of his mother, the actress Mary Martin, with whom he appeared as a member of the chorus in the London production of "South Pacific." While in England, he joined the U.S. Air Force and married his wife Maj Axelsson in 1954. After completing military service, Hagman returned to New York to act is series of Broadway and off-Broadway plays and then moved to Hollywood to pursue television. Hagman's first big TV break came with "I Dream of Jeannie," which ran for five years. But it was not until 1977 with "Dallas" that Hagman's career took off, as he became America's most popular love-to-hate character—J. R. Ewing. The series ran for 13 series and the famous "Who Shot J.R.?" episode became the second highest rated TV show in history.

Off-screen, Hagman has contributed much of his time to the anti-smoking campaign of the American Cancer Society and has campaigned for the increased use of clean solar energy, particularly in developing nations and communities. His recent acting work has included Oliver Stone's "Nixon" (1995) and the film "Primary Colors" (1998). In 1997, Hagman visited Washington College to present the first annual Mary Martin Drama Scholarship, named in honor of his late mother and established by graduate Matthew Weir '90, grandson of the acclaimed actress.

Ted Turner, Richard Holbrooke to be Honored at College's Washington's Birthday Convocation

Chestertown, MD, December 10, 2001 — Media giant Ted Turner and former United Nations Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke will be honored at Washington College's Washington's Birthday Convocation on Saturday, February 16, 2002. The Convocation will be held at 2 p.m. in the College's Tawes Theatre. A reception will follow in the Gallery of the Casey Academic Center.

Ever unconventional, controversial and forward-looking, R. E. "Ted" Turner is many things to many people—yachtsman, television tycoon, newsman, freethinker and multi-billionaire philanthropist. As a supporter of a number of humanitarian causes, Mr. Turner founded the United Nations Foundation with a $1 billion grant and the Goodwill Games, an international, world-class, quadrennial, multi-sport competition. Mr. Turner is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, industry awards and civic honors, including being named Time magazine's 1991 Man of the Year and Broadcasting & Cable's Man of the Century in 1999.

Mr. Turner spent nearly 30 years building Turner Broadcasting System into one of the nation's largest media conglomerates, CNN-- the world's first live, in-depth, round-the-clock news television network. The company merged with Time Warner in 1996. Mr. Turner now serves as Vice Chairman and Senior Adviser of AOL Time Warner.

In his latest effort to promote world peace and international cooperation, Mr. Turner founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) in January 2001, pledging at least $250 million over five years--among the largest sums any private individual has ever invested in these security issues. He co-chairs the foundation with former Senator Sam Nunn.

An astute businessman, Mr. Turner began his career as an account executive for Turner Advertising Company, later to become the Turner Broadcasting System. He bought his first television station in 1970 and later purchased major league baseball's Atlanta Braves. Mr. Turner pioneered the "superstation" concept, transmitting a station's signal to cable systems nationwide via satellite. He founded the cable channels TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), a 24-hour commercial-free network, and he expanded Turner Broadcasting's news division with the creation of CNNRadio, CNN Airport Network and a 24-hour sports network.

Richard C. Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is a veteran diplomat now heading up a new task force on terrorism created by the Council on Foreign Relations. The former U.S. ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs was the chief architect of the 1995 Dayton Peace Accord that ended the war in Bosnia. In recognition of his efforts, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He later served as President Clinton's special envoy to the Balkans during the crisis in Kosovo.

Ambassador Holbrooke began his career as a Foreign Service Officer immediately after graduating from Brown University in 1962. He was sent to Vietnam and in the following six years served in several posts--first in the Mekong Delta as a provincial representative for the Agency for International Development (AID), and then as staff assistant to Ambassadors Maxwell Taylor and Henry Cabot Lodge. In 1966 he was reassigned to the White House on President Johnson's staff, and later served on the American Delegation to the Paris Peace Talks on Vietnam.

Ambassador Holbrooke was Peace Corps Director in Morocco for two years, and in 1972 became managing editor of the quarterly journal Foreign Policy. Under President Carter's administration he was Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. During his tenure in the East Asia Bureau, the United States established full diplomatic relations with China. He was chairman of Refugees International from 1996 to 1999 and was twice a member of the board of the International Rescue Committee. Currently, Ambassador Holbrooke serves on the board of directors of Human Genome Sciences, Inc., a biotechnology company that grew out of the Human Genome Project. He is the author of "To End a War", which The New York Times selected as one of the eleven best books of 1998, and co-author of "Counsel to the President", the best-selling memoirs of Clark Clifford.

In recognition of their career achievements and public service, both Mr. Turner and Ambassador Holbrooke will receive honorary Doctor of Law degrees from the College.

Additional Links

Learn more about Richard Holbrooke

Learn more about Ted Turner

Ted Turner Films Civil War Movie in Maryland

AOL/Time Warner Incoming CEO Wants Turner to Return

College to Honor Country Legend Eddy Arnold and L. Clifford Schroeder at Fall Convocation

Chestertown, MD, August 10, 2001 — Washington College will honor country singer/songwriter Eddy Arnold and L. Clifford Schroeder, 1998-2001 Chairman of the College's Board of Visitors and Governors, at its Fall Convocation on Thursday, September 6, 2001, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Tawes Theatre of the Gibson Performing Arts Center. Arnold will be recognized with an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts for his contributions to country music, and Schroeder will be recognized for his service to the College and other public organizations with an Honorary Doctor of Public Service. The Convocation is free and open to the public.

Eddy Arnold holds the distinction of being the only singer to achieve Billboard chart hits in seven separate decades. Long before today's country pop revolution, Arnold became the original country crossover, bringing the country sound into the mainstream of popular American music. Managed by Col. Tom Parker, who later went on to direct the career of Elvis Presley, Arnold began to dominate country music in the late 1940s. In 1955 Arnold broke with the country music establishment by recording with the Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra, expanding his appeal and making country music a mainstay of popular American music.

In 1964, Arnold embarked on a "second career" that surpassed the success of the first one and carried his music to a more diverse audience. "Make the World Go Away" was just another song until it received the Arnold touch and became an international hit. Arnold's 60-year-plus career has earned him induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

L. Clifford Schroeder, Sr., father of Washington College alumni Louis Clifford Schroeder '91 and Christopher Lyon Schroeder '94, currently serves a president of Chronos Limited and Dixie Container Capital Corporation located in Richmond, VA. Mr. Schroeder joined the Washington College Board in 1990 and was elected Chairman in 1998.

Mr. Schroeder holds a B.A. in economics from Harvard College and an M.A. from the Harvard Business School, and has had an active career in public service as well as in business.

In addition to his decade of service to Washington College, Mr. Schroeder served for 16 years as chair of the Virginia Outdoors Association, a board member of the St. Christopher's School and Taft School, vice chair of the Virginia Oyster Reef Heritage Foundation, chair of the Virginia Chesapeake Bay Board, and a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors of the College of William and Mary. He and his wife, Lois, reside in Richmond.

Country Crooner Eddy Arnold to Be Honored at College's Fall Convocation

Chestertown, MD, July 17, 2001 — Washington College will honor country crooner Eddy Arnold at its Fall Convocation on Thursday, September 6, 2001, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the College's Gibson Performing Arts Center's Tawes Theatre. Arnold will receive an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the College. The Convocation is free and open to the public.

Eddy Arnold holds the distinction of being the only singer to achieve Billboard chart hits in seven separate decades. Long before today's country pop revolution, Arnold became the original country crossover, bringing the country sound into the mainstream of popular American music.

Arnold was born on May 15, 1918 in Henderson, Tennessee. During his childhood, he suffered through the death of his father and the loss of the family farm. When he turned 18, he left home to make his mark in the music world. Arnold's formative musical years included early struggles to gain recognition until he landed a job as the lead male vocalist for the Pee Wee King Band. By 1943 Arnold was a solo star on the Grand Ole Opry. He was signed by RCA and in December of 1944 cut his first record. Although all of his early records sold well, his big hit did not come until 1946 with "That's How Much I Love You."

Managed by Col. Tom Parker, who later went on to manage the career of Elvis Presley, Arnold began to dominate country music. In 1947-48 he had 13 of the top 20 songs. In 1955 Arnold upset many in the country music establishment by going to New York to record with the Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra. The pop-oriented arrangements of "Cattle Call" and "The Richest Man (In the World)" expanded Arnold's appeal and made country music a mainstay of popular American music.

With the advent of Rock and Roll, Arnold's record sales dipped in the late 1950s, but after Jerry Purcell became his manager in 1964, Arnold embarked on a "second career" that surpassed the success of the first one and, in the process, realized his dream of carrying his music to a more diverse audience. Having already been recorded by several other artists, "Make the World Go Away" was just another song until it received the Arnold touch. Under the direction of producer Chet Atkins, and showcased by Bill Walker's arrangement, and the talents of the Anita Kerr Singers and pianist Floyd Cramer, Arnold's soaring rendition of "Make The World Go Away" became an international hit. Bill Walker's precise, intricate arrangements of the Nashville sound musicians provided the lush background for 16 straight Arnold hits through the late 1960s, and Arnold started performing with symphony orchestras in virtually every major city.

Arnold differed from many country singers of his time. He sang from his diaphragm, not through his nose. He avoided honky-tonk themes and preferred to sing songs that explored the intricacies of love. Steve Sholes, who produced all of Arnold's early hits, called Arnold a natural singer, comparing him to the likes of Bing Crosby and Caruso. Arnold's 60-year-long career has earned him induction into the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Author Richard Ben Cramer to Speak at Convocation

Chestertown, MD, February 16, 2001 — Washington College will honor Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Ben Cramer at the annual George Washington's Birthday Convocation on Saturday, February 17, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. in the College's Gibson Performing Arts Center, Tawes Theatre. Cramer will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters from the College.

Author of the recent best-selling biography Joe Dimaggio: The Hero's Life (Simon & Schuster, 2000), Cramer is a dogged journalist whose writing is as incisive as it is empathetic. Born in Rochester, NY, he studied journalism at Johns Hopkins and Columbia University before taking his first job with the (Baltimore) Sun in 1971. In 1976, Cramer went to work for The Philadelphia Inquirer, becoming an overseas correspondent and earning the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the Middle East and Arab-Israeli conflict. Since 1984, Cramer has worked as a freelance writer and researcher probing America's cultural icons and political life. His 1992 bestseller, What It Takes: The Way to the White House, has been hailed by critics as the best book ever written on American politics.

The George Washington's Birthday Convocation is held annually in February to honor Washington College's founding patron. This year's event will open with an invocation and benediction by Dr. Gary Schiff, an avocational Hebrew cantor and lecturer in the College's Department of Philosophy and Religion. The ceremony also will honor students inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa national honor society. A reception and book signing will be held in the Tawes Gallery immediately following the Convocation. The event is free and open to the public. For further information call 410-778-7849.

Author Ray Bradbury to Speak at 2001 Commencement

Author Ray Bradbury will address Washington College's Class of 2001 at the 219th Commencement on May 20, 2001. The College will present Bradbury with an Honorary Doctor of Letters.

The best-selling author of over 500 published works including short stories, novels, plays, film and television scripts, and verse, Bradbury is best known for his works The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451. In his work, Bradbury confronts themes such as racism, censorship, nuclear proliferation, and technology's effect on human values through the medium of fantasy and science fiction. Critics credit Bradbury for having a greater moral and humanistic range than the label science fiction implies, saying his use of science fiction is mere stage setting for a deeper understanding of the enduring reality of human nature.

Born in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1920, Bradbury began writing in his youth and published his first story at age 20. He entered the professional writing life through the numerous science fiction and fantasy pulp magazines of the period and by 1947 had published his first collection of short stories, Dark Carnival. Bradbury's numerous awards include the O. Henry Award, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement. Bradbury lives in Los Angeles, California.

"We are honored that Mr. Bradbury accepted our invitation to speak," said Dr. John Toll, president of Washington College. "His long record of literary achievement will be an inspiration to our students."

For more information on the life and work of Ray Bradbury, visit:http://www.brookingsbook.com/bradbury/index.htm

Guggenheim and Domingo to be honored at Convocation

Chestertown, MD — Opera tenor Placido Domingo and four-time Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Charles Guggenheim will be honored at Washington College on Feb. 19 at the College’s Winter Convocation.

Domingo, who receives an honorary Doctor of Music, is a powerful force in the world of opera. Artistic director of the Washington Opera and co-founder and artistic adviser of the Los Angeles Music Center Opera, he has appeared in 114 different operatic roles, more than any other tenor in the annals of music. His broad repertoire includes Mozart, Verdi, Berlioz, Puccini, Wagner and Ginastera.

He has sung in every important opera house in the world, has made 93 recordings of full-length operas and more than 100 recordings overall, and has received eight Grammy Awards. As a conductor, he has led opera performances in such important opera theaters as the Metropolitan, London’s Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, the Los Angeles Music Center Opera, and the Bastille Opera in Paris. He has also directed purely symphonic concerts. In an effort to support young singers, Domingo launched a vocal competition in 1993 that rewards winners with financial prizes and assures them of his personal involvement in furthering their careers.

Charles Guggenheim receives an Award of Excellence, given in recognition of his singular accomplishments in the field of documentary film. He made his first public film in 1954 and has gone on to produce more than 80. Guggenheim won Oscars for Nine From Little Rock (1964), about 1957 school integration there; Robert Kennedy Remembered (1968), shown at the 1968 Democratic National Convention; The Johnstown Flood (1989), commemorating the 100th anniversary of the disaster; and A Time for Justice (1995), documenting the civil-rights movement. In a recent interview with The Washingtonian, Guggenheim recalled the making of Monument to the Dream, his film about the building of the St. Louis Gateway Arch. "On Sundays I’d go down to the construction site with my family and say, ‘Look at that. I’m making a movie about it.’

Next to us would be a laborer with his family saying, ‘Look at that. We’re building this thing.’ " The film won the Venice Film Festival’s Gold Mercury Award, the first time the award was given to an American.

Guggenheim’s latest release, The First Freedom, features journalists’ personal recollections of the times they’ve put their lives and reputations on the line in the quest for truth. Writing in the Washington Post, movie critic Desson Howe called it "an extraordinary work which shows the inevitable tension between government and a free press . . . superbly edited and visually spirited."

The Convocation ceremony takes place in the Gibson Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19. A reception follows.