Newspaper Page Text
Volume XLV No. 11
SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
SPECIAL EDITION
spelmanspotlight@gmail.com May 2009 Voice of African-American Womanhood
www.MyGradPhotos.com
The graduating seniors of 2009 pose proudly in their caps and gowns. May 17th, 2009 marks Commencement 2009, where they will cross the stage to receive their diplomas.
SENIOR EDITION
Saying Goodbye to the Class of 2009
To the Class of 2009: A Letter from President Tatum
To the Class of2009,
Congratulations for all the hard
work and dedication that has brought
you to this moment of accomplishment
- your graduation from Spelman Col
lege! Though we are in a challenging
time for our nation and the global
economy, we have much to celebrate.
On May 17,2009 more than 550 of you
will cross the stage at Commencement,
ready to take your place as Spelman
women ready to change the world.
I know you know this already - but
it bears repeating. It is a privilege
to have received an education of the
quality that you have with the help
of the Spelman College faculty and
staff, and the support of your fam
ily and friends. And now, to whom
much is given, some would say, much
is expected. And we do expect much
of you. But the saying, which comes
from the Bible, is more accurately re
membered as “to whom much is given,
much is required; and from the one to
whom much has been entrusted, even
more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:
48) Much has been entrusted - much
will be demanded. You are the ones
we have been waiting for. The world
needs your talent to be developed and
harnessed for good. It is your time.
We know it is a time of tremendous
uncertainty globally - a time of inter
national conflict and a time for needed
peace, a time of economic instabil
ity and a time of needed innovation, a
time of a growing divide between the
haves and the have-nots and a time of
needed social reform, a time of disease
and a time for needed cures, a time of
shrinking environmental resources and
a time to preserve the earth. It is also a
time of great opportunity - a time when
smart, socially conscious women can
make their mark on the world in so
many different ways! The good news
is the world can change - and women
like you can change it! We have all
seen the reality of change with our own
eyes as we watched the inauguration of
President Barack Obama on January
20, 2009, the first African American to
serve as President of the United States.
This remarkable event took place just
45 years after the Civil Rights Act of
1964 ended the rigid social segregation
of public accommodations, creating the
social freedoms we now assume as part
of everyday life in Atlanta - changes
brought about in part by the activism
of Spelman women who preceded you
here.
Our tradition as change agents is
longstanding and a source of great
pride. What changes will happen in
your lifetime? What will you make
happen? I am an optimistic person by
nature, but I cultivate my optimism by
seeking out hopeful stories. One of my
favorites is this one - perhaps you have
heard it.
A young girl was walking along a
beach. To her amazement, she came
upon thousands of starfish. Washed
ashore by a storm, they were dying
in the hot sun. The girl began to toss
starfish back into the sea, one by one.
After a while, a man approached her.
“Young woman,” he asked, “why are
you doing this? There are thousands
of starfish on the beach. You cannot
possibly hope to make a difference!”
The girl was discouraged, and dropped
the starfish in her hand. But a mo
ment later, she bent down, picked up
the starfish again, and tossed it as far
as she could into the sea. She turned
back to the man. Smiling brightly, she
said: I made a difference to that one!
Inspired, others joined her. And soon,
to her amazement, all the starfish had
been tossed back into the sea.
This is a story about hope, about
youth, about the power of the individu
al to inspire the collective. One young
person saw a problem and the possibil
ity of changing it and took action. This
starfish story has had a special mean
ing this year at Spelman as donations
to the Starfish Initiative (also known as
the President’s Safety Net Fund) have
made it possible for many students im
pacted by the economy to finish their
senior year without interruption. We
are grateful to the many donors who
contributed to help students - one by
one - and who join with us in celebrat
ing the success of the Class of 2009.
Together we are counting on you to
use your education to continue the
good that you have experienced here at
Spelman College.
We often talk about the idealism
of youth. Class of 2009, capitalize
on that idealism, on the hopefulness of
your youth. Do not be daunted by the
economy. The world is still waiting for
your talents. Do not be afraid to do
what others say cannot be done. The
world can change. You can change it.
Your education is not complete - that
is a life-long process - but a foundation
has been laid. Build on that founda
tion, don’t rest on it. Use the tools that
you have been given here at Spelman
College and build on them - then in
spire us by your example.
Remember, to whom much is
given, much is required. But don’t
worry - you are up to the task. It is
your time. We can hardly wait to see
what you will do.
Congratulations, Class of2009\
With very best wishes,
Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.
President