May 15 marked the first Marlboro College commencement that combined both undergraduate and graduate programs, conferring degrees upon 47 seniors and 20 students from graduate and professional studies programs. “Both programs infuse a deep sense of membership in a distinctive learning community, enable careers of purpose, and enrich lives,” said President Kevin Quigley in his address. Laura “Rainbow” Stakiwicz ’16 delivered the undergraduate student address, and graduating MA in Teaching with Technology student and double alumna Heidi Doyle ’94 shared her thoughts on the remarkable similarities between Marlboro’s two programs. Honorary degrees were conferred upon Robert Gard, Jr., chairman of the board at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, and Nadinne Cruz, an advocate and practitioner of service learning and experiential education. Finally, valedictions were offered by Luis Rosa, dean of students for the undergraduate campus, and Lori Hanau, community builder and faculty member for graduate and professional studies.

From President Kevin Quigley’s remarks
Our undergraduate students embrace creativity and assiduously pursue their intellectual passions in interdisciplinary ways, forging new understandings, insights, and habits of inquiry and community practice that will inform the course of their lives. Our graduate school students are individuals who devote their collective talents toward shaping a better world in which they apply their passion, intelligence, and courage to address real-world issues and practice visionary leadership. Both programs infuse a deep sense of membership in a distinctive learning community and enable careers of purpose and enrich lives—creating ripples of influence spreading out from southern Vermont, across the nation, and around the world, wherever our alumni make their mark.

From Laura Stakiwicz’ student address
I remember when I first came to this imperfect place . . . And the message that I received, from the community, and from the individuals who would become my mentors and friends, was this: We believe in you. We trust you. We know you’re afraid, and we have been there, dude. We know you are imperfect—so are we. And despite that, we have faith in you. I learned to trust myself here, because I was trusted. I learned to value myself because I was valued. Because you believed in me, Marlboro, I have learned to walk hand in hand with my fear.

From Heidi Doyle’s student address
I feel we are all part of one Marlboro. We strived to achieve goals that were personal, professional, and even global. We are the creators, the makers, and the doers. We worked hard to produce a Plan or a Capstone that would inform the world about our passions and teach ourselves at the same time. We all can be proud today, with the knowledge that we have had an educational experience that will serve us well in the world, one that will serve the greater good, our own prosperity, and allow us to be true to ourselves.

From the remarks of Robert Gard
Don’t ever believe that the scope and magnitude of poverty and injustice are so great that what you can do about them doesn’t matter. Improving the life of a single human being is a meaningful contribution. So let me urge you to foster a sense of purpose by becoming involved in causes in which you believe.

From the remarks of Nadinne Cruz
What I have noted here at Marlboro is an expectation for mutuality and reciprocity, for relatedness, which are elements of community partnerships. To the extent that these qualities of relationships are embodied in egalitarian campus customs and democratic practices, such as Town Meetings, then the preparation for community engagement is already integral to Marlboro.

For full transcripts of addresses, citations, and academic prizes, as well as photos and video, go to marlboro.edu/comm2016.