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Aug. 10, 2002

ULM'S Summer 2002 Commencement Graduates First Class From The College Of Arts And Sciences

The University of Louisiana at Monroe graduated 233 students at the Summer 2002 Commencement held on August 10, at 2:00 p.m. in Fant ­Ewing Coliseum.

Keynote Speaker for commencement was Dr. Carlos D. Fandal, Dean of ULM's newly formed College of Arts and Sciences. Today's ceremony marked the first time for a graduating class of the College of Arts and Sciences to receive their diplomas. The College of Arts and Sciences was formed recently by combining two existing Colleges, The College of Liberal Arts and the College of Pure and Applied Sciences.

In his remarks to the class, President Cofer introduced Dr. Wayne Brumfield, ULM's new Vice President for Student Affairs, by noting, "In my investiture address in May, I said that students were my first priority, and my actions since that time have underscored that commitment. My first permanent Cabinet-level appointment as president was Dr. Brumfield. He is an energetic, highly-motivated, dynamic individual who puts students first."

President Cofer also commented about the new College. "This is part of refocusing the campus on a general education core-curriculum, and should help with our retention efforts," said Cofer. "This combination gives us a strong central Arts and Sciences faculty and a strong Arts and Sciences College. It puts us in a better position to move forward as a university."

In his keynote address, Dean Fandal also commented on the changes at the University. Concerning the restructuring he said, "We have begun a reorganization of the University that will set it securely upon the solid foundation of the new College of Arts and Sciences. The faculty look forward with confidence and expectation to the beginning of our new endeavor to make a great university even better."

Dean Fandal shared with the graduates four short stories: the story of Quintas Horatius Flaccus climbing Parnassus in search of finding himself; of Icarus and his wings ignoring warnings of flying too high; of Midas's curse of the golden touch; and of Solomon's granting of wisdom from God. He summed up their individuals lessons with advice for the class: "Climb the mountain, stay the middle course, choose wisdom over gold, know yourself and you shall be happy."

One student was recognized as tops in the class, Radka Petrova Petrova, earning a 3.9 grade point average, graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences in Legal Studies (pre-law). Petrova is from Haskovo, Bulgaria and the daughter of Maria and Peter Tsvetkovi.

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