16 University News Fall 2009
2009
Respectful of the past,
Hopeful of the future,
Mindful of the present.
AU COMMENCEMENT
“Today, let us think about this Adelphi graduation
in three parts: as ‘last day,’ ‘first day,’ and ‘this
day’—your last day as a student for this degree,
your first day as an alum, and a suggestion on
how to think about ‘each day’ yet to come,” said
Adelphi University President Robert A. Scott,
addressing nearly 2,800 graduates and thousands
of their family members and friends in the Nassau
Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum for Adelphi’s 113th
Commencement on May 21, 2009.
Dr. Scott, who delivered this year’s Commencement
address, expressed his hopes that an Adelphi educa-
tion will allow the new alumni to set their priorities,
become versatile problem-solvers, and build a foun-
dation for their success.
“A focus on ‘this day’ reminds us of the philosophy of
‘mindfulness,’ being alert to one’s present experience,
feelings, and consciousness in creating a sense of total
awareness,” said Dr. Scott. “We hope that graduates
of Adelphi will be lifelong learners, effective workers,
active citizens, and good mentors, respectful of the
past, hopeful of the future, mindful of the present.”
Noted members of the Long Island and New York
City communities were honored for their lifelong
professional efforts and their commitment to being
active citizens. Suzy Dalton Sonenberg M.S.W. ’76,
executive director of the Long Island Community
Foundation, a division of the New York Community
The doctoral hooding ceremony held on May
Trust, was awarded an honorary degree, along with
20, 2009 honored 33 doctoral candidates from
Audrey Ronning Topping, author, photojournal-
the Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced
ist, and documentary filmmaker and her husband,
Psychological Studies and the School of
Seymour Topping, longtime foreign editor, assistant
Social Work.
and deputy managing editor, and managing editor
of the New York Times and former director of edito- A video of the Commencement ceremony, as
rial development of The New York Times Company’s well as transcripts of the addresses, are online
32 regional newspapers. Joan Kuster ’51, member of at adelphi.edu/commencement
the Adelphi University Alumni Association Board,
received the Ruth Stratton Harley Distinguished By Ana Barbu ’10
Alumni Achievement Award.