Eric S. Lander, President and founding director of The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Delivers Keynote Address

WORCESTER, MA (06/06/2013)(readMedia)-- A total of 1,165 degrees (781 bachelor's degrees, 358 master's, and 26 PhDs) were awarded during the university's commencement ceremony on May 11, 2013, which took place outdoors on the WPI quadrangle. Additionally, 328 degrees were awarded earlier this academic year.

Julie Eagle of Rock Island, Ill., was awarded a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering with distinction.

Thousands of students, their families and friends, trustees, and other special guests were on hand to experience the inspirational messages delivered by keynote speaker, Eric S. Lander, president and founding director of The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Honorary degrees were conferred upon Lander; Carol T. Christ, president of Smith College; and Robert H. Beckett '57, retired chairman and CEO of Robec, Inc., and currently president and CEO of Tribo Surface Engineering.

In his commencement address, Lander told the graduates they face a number of challenges, including economic stress, a looming crisis in healthcare costs for an aging population, climate change concerns, and political upheaval.

"And yet, nonetheless, I am optimistic," Lander said. "I am optimistic because of you - because of your generation's ability to both dream and act - to combine theory and practice."

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI was one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. There are more than 30 WPI project centers throughout North America and Central America, Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

Rivermont Collegiate is honored to welcome Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Iowa, as our 2013 Commencement Speaker.

Members of the press are invited to join us for this distinguished speaker!

Rivermont Collegiate 126th Commencement

Friday, June 7, 2013

10:00 a.m.

South Lawn of the Historic Bettendorf Mansion

1821 Sunset Drive - Bettendorf, IA

Kenosha, Wis. - Carthage College celebrated Commencement on May 26, 2013.

Students from our local area receiving degrees include : 

Jennifer Fyfe of Davenport with a BA in French Communication

Jeremiah Watson of Davenport with a BA in Psychology

Nathan Moore of Moline with a  BA in Accounting/Finance. Mr. Moore graduated Cum Laude.

Established in 1847, Carthage is a college of the liberal arts and sciences affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The College enrolls 2,500 students and is situated on the Lake Michigan shore in Kenosha, Wis., midway between Chicago and Milwaukee. The Collegiate Learning Assessment has ranked Carthage among the top 20 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for the academic gains of its students.

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CHICAGO - As part of his commitment to restoring fiscal stability to Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn today signed an honest budgeting bill that will pay off more than $1 billion of the state's overdue bills. Successive years of under-appropriating programs by the General Assembly has lengthened the time it takes to pay the state's social service providers, such as homes for children and adults with developmental disabilities. House Bill 206 will bring relief to those providers. The bill includes many of the governor's honest budgeting initiatives and was negotiated with the Illinois House and Senate.

The Community Care Program, which provides home assistance for the elderly, will receive $142 million. Another $235 million will go to the care of people with developmental disabilities. Group Health Insurance will receive $350 million, and $500 million will go to Medicaid bills.

The bill includes $42 million to make payroll at the state Department of Corrections, as well as funding for the Court of Claims and crime victims' compensation fund. The bill also includes nearly $6 billion for the state's fiscal year 2014 certified pension contribution.

For the fifth year in a row, Governor Quinn is making the full contribution to the pension systems.