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June 18, 2009

Dartmouth receives $50 million commitment, largest in the College's history, to support Visual Arts Center

"This is a spectacular gift from a family that has given long service to Dartmouth," said President James Wright of the gift from an anonymous family.

Located behind the Hood Museum of Art, the Visual Arts Center will serve as an intellectual and cultural hub and will house the Departments of Studio Art and Film and Media Studies. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2010.

Read more about the gift and how the center will create an arts district.

2009 Commencement highlights

In delivering his last Commencement address as president, James Wright encouraged graduates to embrace the future. "Memories are wonderful, but for the young it is dreams that must dominate," he said.

Commencement speaker Louise Erdrich '76, a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in fiction, urged graduates to "celebrate the fact that you have acquired knowledge," but "beware of knowledge without love."

Co-valedictorians: Geoffrey Kirsch '09 (Concord, N.H.) said, "Let it be our burden and our privilege to clamor not only for jobs, but to build a highway for culture and intellect," and Yanyang Liu '09 (Changsha, China) said, "May our wonders be tempered by discipline, by foresight, which is a privilege of experience." (This year there were two valedictorians and three salutatorians.)

Transcripts of the addresses, audio, video, and photos of are available at the Commencement website.

Donors give $15.5 million to honor President James Wright and Susan DeBevoise Wright

The gifts include commitments for the "James and Susan DeBevoise Wright Scholarship Fund for Undergraduates," which will fund scholarships for 16 students, and a $3 million gift from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation to establish the James Wright Professorship.

Read more about why donors are honoring the Wrights.

Marketing-savvy seniors help achieve record 96 percent participation for Class Gift

Rembert Browne '09, Leah Adkins '09, and Taylor Dryman '09 knocked on doors, created a poster and a website, came up with a tagline ("You never forget your first time"), and clearly stated their goal: to BEAT the Class of 2008! (which had 93 percent participation).

Learn about the effort and visit the Class of 2009 website, created by Michael Bamberger '09.

Board appoints two new trustees; Alumni Council calls for nominees for two board seats

Denise M. Dupre '80 and William W. Helman IV '80 will succeed Russell L. Carson '65 and Karen C. Francis '84, who step down this month after ten and nine years on the Board, respectively.

Read more about Dupre, Helman, and other actions taken during the Board's spring meeting.

Learn how to nominate a trustee candidate at the Alumni Council website.

Quick Links

Professional development: At Google, Fidelity, and elsewhere, alumni help students connect with careers

Pair of Pipers: Dartmouth's 2009 Commencement bagpipers continue tradition started in 1953

Senior Fellow Lilian Mehrel '09 discusses her book on the experiences of her German and Iranian grandmothers (audio)

Living Legacies: A sculptor, a scientist, and an author link their success to Dartmouth faculty mentors

Two SEAD graduates talk about their journey from under-resourced schools in Philadelphia to Dartmouth (audio)

On San Francisco blog, poet Ishmael Reed writes about Dartmouth and William Cook, professor of English emeritus

Stay Connected

GreenNews

Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne '85 discusses a "phenomenal" TV ad and other reasons the company shot up to annual sales of $1 billion.

Just the ticket: Dartmouth Alumni Travel

Travel to Greece with Professor of French John Rassias, experience Central Asia's Legendary Silk Road with Professor of Government Dirk Vandewalle, or join Dartmouth alumnae and learn more about the women of Tanzania with Dean of the Faculty Carol Folt.