HGSE Presents Honors at Convocation Ceremony

Harvard Graduate School of Education students, alumni, faculty, and their families responded with standing ovations, cheers, and tears yesterday as they gathered in Radcliffe Yard for convocation.

The convocation featured honors such as the Morningstar Family Teaching Award, the Alumni Council Award, the HGSE Intellectual Contribution Awards, and Class Gift, as well as speakers from the HGSE community.

“Change is opening doors with visionary approaches to everyday problems. It is everything you have been trained for here at Harvard, and nothing you have ever encountered before,” said Eyenga Bokamba, Ed.M.’07, this year’s student selected speaker. “Leadership, then, is the recognition, within each one of us, of the foundation that grounds us and the vision that inspires us to act. Acting on your convictions, backed up by research, what will you accomplish in the next iteration of your journey as an educator? What doors will you open for others as you make your way up the proverbial ladder?”

Each year HGSE students are invited to enter the Student Speaker Competition, the winner of which is selected by a committee of faculty and staff to speak at the convocation. Bokamba’s speech, “Opening the Door,” focused on the power of education to affect lives and encouraged graduates to reflect on their own experience in education.

“Who opened doors in your mind? Which professors, classmates, research subjects, readings, experiences, opportunities, frustrations, and triumphs?  And now that the door is open, how will you walk through it?” Bokamba said.

Dean Kathleen McCartney presented Professor Richard Murnane with this year’s  Morningstar Family Teaching Award, which recognizes a faculty member for his or her generosity in providing time and support to students. In the words of one of his students, McCartney read, “He has opened more doors of opportunity then I’ve been able to walk through.”

Lecturer Mary Casey, Ed.M.’93, Ed.D.’01, who was selected by students as faculty speaker, shared personal stories and encouraged graduates to be truthtellers. Casey, a native of Cambridge, talked about the shadow of Harvard while growing up and awaiting graduation each year. “It is one thing to see the splash of color, but it is another thing to wear it,” she said. However, Casey emphasized that it wasn’t the word Harvard on the diploma that mattered as much as the word “veritas” which means truth. “The cost of telling the truth is high and bear that with great dignity,” she said.

She urged the students to go forward with courage and do good, but also to care. “Care as deeply for [children’s] well being as their academic achievement,” she said. “Care about how good they are but also how good they do.” Casey also encouraged the graduates to be the “heroes to the hearts of all children they meet.”

This year’s recipients of the Alumni Council Award, Eleanor Linn, M.A.T. ’72, and Nan Stein, Ed.D.’81, demonstrated the importance of keeping in touch with colleagues and working together to achieve goals in life. Linn and Stein have dedicated themselves to developing and supporting educators and policymakers who promote gender equality and rights for girls. As a result, together the two created a movement to recognize the problem of sexual harassment in schools.

“I urge you to find and cherish colleagues,” Stein said, encouraging students to become “activists in all realms of your life.”

The complete list of honorees:

Student Speaker: Eyenga Bokamba, Ed.M.'07

Morningstar Family Teacher Award: Professor Richard Murnane

Alumni Council Award: Eleanor Linn, M.A.T. ’72, and Nan Stein, Ed.D.’81

Faculty Speaker: Lecturer Mary Casey

HGSE Intellectual Contribution - Faculty Tribute Awards : James Coley, Ed.M.'07, Arts in Education
Vincent Betram, Ed.M.'07, Education Policy and Management
Jesse Castaldi, Ed.M.'07, Higher Education
Jesse Morris, Ed.M.'07, Human Development and Psychology
Layli Uddin, Ed.M.'07, International Education Policy
Rachel Porzig, Ed.M.'07, Language and Literacy
Katharine Traester, Ed.M.'07, Learning and Teaching
Laura Schifter, Ed.M.'07, Mind, Brain, and Education
Susan Cutillo, Ed.M.'07, Risk and Prevention
Matthew Eskin, Ed.M.'07, School Leadership Program
Xueling Lee, Ed.M.'07, Special Studies
Kalpna Mistry, Ed.M.'07, Teacher Education Program
Michael Shane Tutwiler, Ed.M.'07, Technology, Innovation, and Education

Class Gift: $10,725