Honors College Bestows Honors to 41 Graduates at Fall Commencement
By William Lineberry
lineberrywd@vcu.edu
The Virginia Commonwealth University Honors College bestowed Honors to 41 graduates, the highest academic accolade given to undergraduate students, at its Fall 2021 commencement ceremony on Friday, December 10.
Students, their families and Honors College faculty and staff gathered in the Honors College building to celebrate the milestone.
Honors College Dean Scott Breuninger, Ph.D. praised the graduates for overcoming adversity and learning obstacles brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You came to Richmond from across the nation to pursue your dreams and for the opportunity to have a transformative experience at VCU,” Breuninger said. “Clearly, when you first arrived, there was no way that you could have predicted how transformative your experiences would be. I doubt that even the most foresighted among you had ‘global-pandemic’ on your graduation bingo card. Yet, you made it through everything and you’re here today.”
Clearly, when you first arrived, there was no way that you could have predicted how transformative your experiences would be. I doubt that even the most foresighted among you had ‘global-pandemic’ on your graduation bingo card. Yet, you made it through everything and you’re here today.
Honors graduates received degrees from the College of Engineering, the College of Humanities and Sciences, the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, the School of Business, the School of World Studies and VCU Life Sciences.
“You have learned the skills that will be necessary no matter what you are going to do next,” Breuninger said. “Whether you are going to medical school or law school, graduate school or working in the arts, teaching or working in business, the education that you received at VCU as part of the Honors College will stay with you, and I hope will provide you with an advantage no matter what comes next.”
The Honors College was established in 1983 to create a vibrant community and a rigorous program of study for academically talented undergraduate students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Honors students have attained distinction through both academic achievement and a commitment to learning in the best of the University’s tradition. Honors students have completed a demanding curriculum, chronicled the entirety of their undergraduate education in an Honors dossier, and are active, contributing members in the Honors community. Graduation with University Honors is the highest accolade offered by Virginia Commonwealth University.