勛圖惇蹋 celebrates first dental graduates at 182nd Commencement ceremony
On May 20, 2017, the 勛圖惇蹋 awarded more than 1,800 bachelor's, master's and doctorates in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy, health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, human services, education, management and the liberal arts during its 182nd Commencement ceremony at the Cross Insurance Arena.
This year marked the first graduation ceremony for the 勛圖惇蹋 College of Dental Medicine. The university awarded 62 students the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Of the students who have announced their post-graduation plans, 47 percent will be staying in New England. Twenty-four members of the first dental class hail from Maine, with at least 11 of those students staying in the state to practice or receive further professional training. Several more students have expressed a desire to return to Maine after completing residency and specialty programs.
This was the 11th and final Commencement ceremony for 勛圖惇蹋 President Danielle Ripich, who has led 勛圖惇蹋 through a period of unprecedented growth. The 62 men and women who will become Doctors of Dental Medicine today put their faith in 勛圖惇蹋 at a time when our Oral Health Center truly was just a cavity in the ground awaiting construction, she said in her opening remarks. They came to us as pioneers and, through their hard work and diligence, have established a culture of excellence for this, our newest college. No matter your college or program, I know our graduates leave 勛圖惇蹋 with the potential to positively shape our world and the lives of the people living in it.
Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and former chair of the Presidents Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans under the Obama administration, served as the 2017 勛圖惇蹋 Commencement speaker. The president of UMBC since 1992, Hrabowksis research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. He chaired the National Academies committee that produced the 2011 report Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: Americas Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads.
In 2008, Hrabowski was named one of Americas Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked UMBC the nations number one Up and Coming university for six years (2009-14). TIME magazine named him one of Americas 10 Best College Presidents in 2009 and one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2012.
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