COA Celebrates Class of 2019

The College of the Atlantic class of 2019.

Guests enjoyed student perspectives from three seniors — Aadityakrishna Sathish, Ky Osguthorpe, and Jack Budd — and heard from COA President Darron Collins ’92, honorary degree recipient Bruce Connery, COA Board of Trustees chairman Philip S.J. Moriarty, and keynote speaker Koko Tanimoto Kondo.

COA 2019 Commencement speaker Koko Tanimoto Kondo, a peace activist and survivor of the atomic bomb.The ceremony began with graduates and faculty marching into a big tent on the north lawn, led by the Anah Highlanders bagpipers and processional grand marshals William Carpenter and John Visvader, who are both retiring this year.

Kondo gave a deeply personal talk about her experiences as a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. She discussed her transformative experience meeting the pilot of Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the bomb, at age 10, and spoke emphatically for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Kondo highlighted the need for forgiveness and peace for both personal and universal healing.

“I have to tell myself, in order to make peace, ‘Koko, do you have a peace in yourself?’ I would like to ask you too. Do you have a peace in yourself?” Kondo said. “Without peace in yourself, you can’t make it. And my hope, my dream, everything I would like to put in your hands, please make this world a very peaceful world that we should live in together.”

The Commencement ceremony included a surprise announcement from Collins bestowing College of the Atlantic honorary MPhil recipient and retired Acadia National Park biologist Bruce Connery.former COA president Steve Katona with the status of President Emeritus, a first for the college. Katona, who led COA from 1993 until 2006, received a hearty, standing ovation for the honor.

Carpenter, a professor of creative writing and literature, started at COA in 1970 as a founding faculty member of the college. Visvader has taught philosophy at COA for 33 years. College officials have created the Bill Carpenter Book Award in his honor, to be given to one or more graduating seniors for outstanding achievement in literature, creative writing, and poetry.

Connery received an honorary Master of Philosophy in human ecology degree. The retired, long-term wildlife program leader and park biologist at Acadia National Park was honored for his many years of working with and mentoring students from COA. Kondo also received an honorary MPhil degree.

Following the ceremony, attendees enjoyed temperate weather and a feast catered by COA chefs Lise Desrochers and Ken Sebelin.

Every College of the Atlantic student designs their own major in human ecology, which integrates knowledge from across academic disciplines and seeks to understand and improve the relationship between humans and their natural, built, and social environments. The class of 2019 includes future botanists, performers, educators, entrepreneurs, conservationists, writers, artists, scientists, linguists, policy analysts, historians, wellness practitioners, and organic farmers. Graduates represent 25 states and 15 nations.

COA graduates Amy Erving, left, and Devyn Adams share a happy moment at the reception following the commencement ceremony.