Sojourner-Douglass College 27th Annual Commencement Ceremony

On June 24th, 2007 the Sojourner-Douglass College family reached yet another milestone achievement and celebrated it's 27th Annual Commencement Ceremony. The graduate candidates were in a state of awe and excitement as they marched forward into the majestic and massive Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to the supportive applause of their family, friends and peers. From the beginning, the Class of 2007 outright personified it's theme, "We Came, We Saw, We Conquered," by presenting with an outstanding 214 graduate candidates; 172 for the Bachelor's programs and 42 for the Masters programs. These candidates further showed their conquering spirits with 62% of these graduates receiving honors. Honorary Doctorates were bestowed upon the Honorable Mayor Sheila Dixon and Interim CEO of Baltimore City Public School System Dr. Charlene Cooper-Boston.

Dr. Marion Stanton, Provost, took a moment to introduce the class and reflect on the theme for the class of 2007 and how they had come to embody the theme. Stanton said the graduates 'Came' to be self-determined, self-reliant, and actively involved in their communities, they 'Saw' personal and professional goals as attainable not impossible, and they 'Conquered' fatigue and personal adversity and their accomplishments should be commended.

Dr. Stanton eloquently quoted from a book that is very familiar to all Sojourner-Douglass College students as it is required reading, The Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire stating "Lives and communities will improve if we consciously engage in achieving improvement," challenging each member of the graduating class to remember that receiving their degree was not the end of the road, "Do not be a finisher but a 'continuer'."

The entire hall was spiritually moved by the words of gratitude and praise given by S-DC Board Member Rev. Bertina Scott during the Invocation (as well as at the end of the ceremony during the Benediction), and Faculty Member Eartha Lankin graced the S-DC family with wonderful musical selections.

The hall was moved to tears by the triumphant and well-spoken Valedictorian Ms. Angel E. Hutley. Ms. Hutley spoke proudly of the institution's heritage of self-determination and of her own determined story, being a single mother. She encourages her classmates to look to their peers for examples of role models for themselves and their children.

When talking about the children, Ms. Hutley boldly states, "Our children went to college, too. There were many nights the childcare room on campus was full to its capacity. Our children deserve credit for those small sacrifices made throughout our journey. So for the children of the graduates of the class of 2007 [raising and holding a baton] I pass the baton of self-determination on to you." Ms. Hutley ended with a timely and appropriate quote from Maya Angelou, "You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal, instead pursue the things you love doing and do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you." Ms. Hutley's standing ovation was well-deserved. Continue to page 2.