Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994 TAG: 9406030103
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: By RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
For the first time in the school's 245-year history, a foreign student, Herman Safin of Lithuania, was recognized as the graduating class's valedictorian. The economics major accumulated a 4.08 grade-point average after transferring to W&L from Moscow State University in 1992.
The 333-member graduating class was composed of 189 men and 146 women.
Thirty-nine states were represented. There were blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and those of Asian descent.
"This is a time of transition for America," said U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, one of the speakers at the graduation, which was held Thursday morning on the front lawn of the W&L campus. "I pray that your talents collectively will be equal to the task."
That task, according to Lugar, is how to keep a fragile hold on the threat of nuclear weapons at a time when Third World nations, such as North Korea, seem intent on developing and distributing them.
The task at hand on Thursday was recognizing the end of the students' college careers.
"Do well in the world," said W&L President John D. Wilson. "Share your talents with others. True happiness comes first to those who care about others before themselves."
To drive that point home, the university recognized Lugar for his governmental service and Evan J. Kemp, a W&L graduate and civil-rights champion on behalf of the handicapped, with honorary doctor of law degrees.
Kemp is credited with spearheading an effort to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1991.
"I learned as a child that dreams will come true if you wish upon a star," Kemp said. "My dream was the integration of people with disabilities into society."
He urged the new graduates to keep on dreaming.
by CNB