Saturday, May 13, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC -- Reflecting on changes he has seen in the South since graduation in 1964, Dr. John Shelton Reed told the 2000 graduating class of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington today that the "real world" they were entering was very different from the one into which his class ventured, so they should "hang loose and roll with the punches."

"In 1964, some changes were plainly on the horizon, but some of the biggest ones blindsided us," said Reed, professor of sociology and William Rand Kenan, Jr. Professor at UNC Chapel Hill. "Hardly anyone foresaw the personal computer, for instance -- much less the Internet. Very few anticipated the women's movement, the mass immigration from Latin America and Asia or the collapse of communism."

However, the South would undergo the most changes, said Reed, who has written more than a dozen books about the idiosyncrasies of the Southern identity. From a region that saw a mass exodus in the early 20th century, Reed told the graduates the South has become the place to live, "an industrial society, like the rest of the United States." A change that wouldn't have happened without the Civil Rights Movement which was in full swing in 1964, he said.

While acknowledging the changes of the past 36 years, Reed speculated on the transformation the graduates could expect in 2036.

"Southerners keep inventing ways to be different, so I think you can count on two things: You will still have a distinctive South to talk about, but it won't look much like the South of today. So hang loose, roll with the punches and good luck to you."

Following Reed's address, approximately 170 students were awarded master's degrees, and 1,190 graduates received bachelor's degrees. This year's graduating class was one the largest ever for the university. As part of the ceremony, Reed was awarded the honorary degree doctor of humanities.

In addition to Reed, honorary degrees were presented to István and Magdolna Hargittai who served four semesters as distinguished visiting professors in the university's Department of Chemistry. The Hargittais are internationally-renowned scientists in the field of molecular structure determination through gas-phase electron diffraction experiments.

Five students were also recognized for outstanding educational or leadership performance.

Matthew Michael (Matt) Britt, Jr. received the Hoggard Medal, presented annually in honor of the late John T. Hoggard. The award recognizes the graduating senior, who in the opinion of the faculty, has shown the most improvement while a UNCW student. Britt, who is from Winston-Salem, enrolled in fall 1996. In the words of one nominator, he had "low academic expectations . . . lack of confidence and lack of direction." According to nomination letters, "Britt aspired to be an orientation leader in fall 1998 but lacked the necessary grade point average. He was hired conditionally but had a disappointing academic record that fall. Challenged to excel or be dropped from the orientation team, Britt made a commitment to academic excellence. He took 18 course hours in spring 1999 earning a 3.66 GPA." He received a bachelor's degree in communication studies.

Lionel Shane Fernando of Wilmington received the William A. Bryan Senior Leadership Award. The award, co-sponsored by the UNCW Alumni Association and the Leadership Center, is given annually to recognize a graduating senior who has exemplified outstanding leadership throughout his or her years at UNCW. As senior class president, Fernando spearheaded fund-raising efforts for the Millennium Clock Tower. The clock was a gift to the university from the Class of 2000 and was dedicated Friday, May 12. In addition to his active involvement in UNCW's Student Government Association, Fernando has been involved with numerous area organizations including WHQR public radio, the Thalian Association, Cape Fear Shakespeare Program and the Salvation Army. Fernando received a bachelor's degree in communication studies.

Also recognized for leadership was Allison Kay Ragon of Wilmington who received the Rachel Freeman Service Leadership Award. Established by the university and the Freeman family in honor of the late "Mae" Rachel Freeman, the award recognizes a graduate who has demonstrated commitment to better the lives of others and to working with others to create social change. Ragon was president of Phi Sigma Pi national honor fraternity and served as an orientation leader and director for the annual Take Back the Night March and Rally. In addition, she founded the "A-Team," UNCW's sexual assault awareness education team, a student-based, sexual assault awareness and prevention program which had impact in the university community and the area high schools. Ragon earned a bachelor's degree in education.

The UNCW Alumni Association recognized the May 2000 and December 1999 graduates with the highest grade point average in their respective classes and whose academic work was done exclusively at UNCW. Cynthia Horrell Ramsey from Kelly, N.C., was the December honoree. A teacher at Southport Christian School, Ramsey completed a bachelor's degree in two years and just finished her first semester in UNCW's Master of Fine Arts Program. The May recipient was Nima Ahmadi who earned dual bachelor's degrees in chemistry and biology. He will attend the University of North Carolina Dental School this fall.