College Awards 573 Degrees to 555 Graduating Seniors

Lafayette granted 573 degrees to 555 graduating seniors and honorary doctorates to four distinguished leaders, including pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin S. Carson Sr., at the College’s 174th Commencement. Also receiving honorary degrees were Elliot J. Sussman, president and chief executive officer of Lehigh Valley Health Network (Doctor of Public Service); Nechama Tec, Holocaust scholar and author (Doctor of Humane Letters); and Trustee Emeritus Riley K. Temple ’71, a principal in the Washington, D.C., strategic consulting firm Temple Strategies (Doctor of Laws)

Nicholas Albano ’09 delivered farewell remarks for the Class of 2009. He is the recipient of the George Wharton Pepper Prize, awarded to the senior who “most closely represents the Lafayette ideal.” The first student to receive her diploma was Rachel Heron ’09, who achieved the highest cumulative grade-point average in the class.