ALONG THE WALK CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2021 “The pandemic has taught us that we can’t Samantha McCarthy of Washington was ACCOLADES go back to the way things were, nor should named valedictorian. She earned a B.A. summa Trustee Award for Faculty we want to. You are too good, too smart, and cum laude with honors in sociology and a minor Excellence: Professor of too wise to go back to normal. You will make in community action. The salutatorian was Mathematics David Mauro, a future that is better than normal,” Hartford Thomas C. McKinney of California, who earned Professor of Engineering HealthCare President and CEO Jeffrey A. Flaks a B.A. summa cum laude in economics with a Taikang Ning ; Staff Excellence: said to the graduates of the Trinity College Class minor in history. Learning Space Manager and of 2021 during his Commencement address. In addition to Flaks, 2021 honorary degrees Media Technology Specialist To maintain low density and physical dis - also were presented to: Philip O. Geier, John J. Dlugosz; Assistant Vice tancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Trinity co-founder of the Davis United World College President for Construction, Facilities, and Operations Tom held two consecutive ceremonies on May 21. Scholars Program and creator of Projects for Fusciello; Associate Director of Following a year unlike any other at the college, Peace; Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist for Athletics for Compliance and graduates receiving their bachelor’s or mas - The Nature Conservancy and Paul W. Horn Student-Athlete Welfare Kristen J. ter’s degrees were seated with up to two invited Distinguished Professor and the Political Noone M’07; History Department guests in separate groups spread out on the Science Endowed Professor in Public Policy Administrative Assistant Main Quad. and Public Law at Texas Tech University; and Georgene “Gigi” St. Peter; Flaks, who spoke at both ceremonies, has Philip S. Khoury ’71, associate provost and Student Excellence: Jaymie Dawn helped the state navigate the challenges of the Ford International Professor of History at the Bianca, Vanessa Ross, Jeffrey P. global pandemic by overseeing extensive testing Massachusetts Institute of Technology and for - Sagun, Ana Stambolic and vaccination outreach. In recognition of his mer trustee and vice chair of the Trinity College The Thomas Church Brownell distinguished career and contributions to the Board of Trustees. Prize for Teaching Excellence health care ifeld, Trinity presented Flaks with an Trinity also celebrated the 2020 honorands. for 2021: Professor of Political honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Last year, the pandemic prevented the college Science Stefanie Chambers, Giovanni Armani Jones ’21, president of from hosting a full in-person Commencement Gwendolyn Miles Smith Professor when, in honor of the 50th anniversary of of Philosophy Erik Vogt; 2020: Trinity’s Student Government Association and Paul E. Raether Distinguished the graduate selected to be the student speaker, coeducation at Trinity, the institution was to Professor of History Cheryl L. said the Class of 2021 represented strength and have bestowed honorary degrees on the ifrst Greenberg resilience. “We’ve not only made it through four women to receive undergraduate degrees The Dean Arthur H. Hughes college, but we have also made it through a from Trinity, in 1970. They are: Trinity College Award for Achievement in pandemic,” Jones said. “COVID-19 has taken a Professor of Theater and Dance, Emerita, Judy Teaching for 2021: Visiting lot away from us but has also given us new per - Dworin ’70; Elizabeth Martin Gallo ’70; Judith Lecturer in Political Science spectives and lessons.” Odlum Pomeroy ’70; and Roberta Russell ’70, and Human Rights Benjamin C. In her charge to the graduates, Trinity who passed away earlier this year and was Carbonetti, Assistant Professor President Joanne Berger-Sweeney celebrated awarded the honorary degree posthumously. of Environmental Science and the triumphs and perseverance of the Class Other 2020 honorands are Francisco L. Borges Biology Amber L. Pitt; 2020: of 2021. “You all are bound together by the ’74, chair and managing partner of Landmark Assistant Professor of Psychology unusual circumstances of the year,” Berger- Partners; the Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Michael Grubb Sweeney said as she letf the graduates with the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Charles A. Dana Research Professorship Award: Professor Y Episcopal Church (Curry received his honor- O questions to consider. “What effect did these of History and International C shared experiences have on the bonds you have ary degree in May 2020, when he served as Studies Dario A. Euraque MC with one another? During this time of COVID- Baccalaureate speaker); and James Hanley and ARAH S , 19, how did your relationships with others in Peter McMorris, co-founders of Cinestudio, Charles A. Dana Research O the Trinity community change? What shared the art house cinema on the Trinity campus. Associate Professorship Award: CAIT bonds will draw you back, 10, 20, or even 50 Plans are underway for the Class of 2020 to be Associate Professor of Language CK and Culture Studies Kifah NI : years from now, to reminisce with your class- celebrated during Reunion Weekend 2022, S O mates about these extraordinary times?” June 10–12. Hanna, Associate Professor of T Psychology Laura J. Holt PHO 4 THE TRINITY REPORTER