This video titled, "The One Hundred Twelfth Commencement Exercises," was held Under the Oaks at Elon University on Saturday, May 25, 2002. The Elon Commencement program included: The Prelude, Suite for Brass and Organ, Andre Campra; Dr. J. Earl Danieley announced, "The Faculty of Elon University proudly presents the 112th graduating class;" The Processional was performed and titled March No. 1 Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar; The Academic Procession, The Flags, The University Mace, The Students Marshals, The Candidates for Degrees, The Faculty Marshals, The University Trustees, The University Faculty, The Platform Participants, and The Invocation given by The Reverend Richard W. McBride, University Chaplain. McBride's remarks included: a morning of great hope, cheer, applause, hardy congratulations, and quiet reflection, a time for silence and listening, and Let us pray. The National Anthem (The Star Spangled Banner, by Francis Scott Key) was led by Nathan J. Moore, Class of 2002. The Welcome to the Elon University Commencement was given by Noel L. Allen, Class of 1969. Allen's remarks included: ownership of Elon values; ownership in people like John Sullivan (Elon's Professor of Philosophy); you are the Elon; look at what can happen to an institution in four years" its changed physically, academically, socially, and emotionally; the opportunities afforded to you now are greater; tradition of Elon marches on; global changes of leadership; and on behalf of the Board of the Trustees, "We, welcome each of you to the great family of Elon University." 00:11:30 The Appreciation Message was given by Hillary M. Sherman, President, Senior Class. Sherman's comments included: "Class of 2002, we did it. In a few moments each of us will walk across those stairs and become graduates. And as we stand here today on the pinnacle of college experiences, we are mindful that we did not get here solely on our own accord. Our parents who have given us much love, the faculty who pushed us to achieve more than we once dreamed possible, as well as pastors, family, and friends. To each of you on behalf of the Class of 2002, I extend my heartfelt gratitude. Soon you will find yourself heading back to your seats with that piece of paper called a diploma. Will you remember what these last four years have been for you? Will you remember how in Global, Dr. Jeffrey Pugh taught us that a red apple was not really red? Will you recall your reflections of other things? For example, the first Rhodes Stadium football game, the change from the Fightin' Christians to the Phoenix, the many all-nighters in Belk Library, or how your roommate got sick, and chicken noodle soup and rest proved to be the best medicine of all? Will you recall how proud we were to be the first class graduating class from Elon University (vs. Elon College)? And remember, our roots will always be with Elon College. Will we remember our classmates who soared in their academic and athletic fields? Together we have committed ourselves to service. We will recall the pain in situations, such as in September 11, 2001, and the loss of four of our own during the year (Megan Tripp, student, Kimberly Rei Yeargin- Elon Alumna, Dr. R.D. Rao, Elon University biology professor, and Isabella Cannon, Class of 1924 and the first female mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina in 1977 -1979). This day marks a future journey. As you pick up your oak sapling, remember Elon is more than bricks & mortar, and painted grass. Elon is our hearts and spirits of all of us here today. Thank you and God Bless. Dr. Leo M. Lambert, President, introduced Elon's Commencement speaker, John G. Sullivan, Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Philosophy. Lambert's remarks included: Sullivan is more than a great teacher; a beloved colleague; when he has something to say, he (Sullivan) says it with poetry; when we grieved last September 12, 2001 with one of our own student's father that was lost at the Pentagon " Sullivan was one of the elder's that we asked to speak and help us to begin to come to grips with the tragedy; Sullivan has that special combination of keen intellect and genuine goodness that makes him the sort of professor with whom you will never forget; the sort of friend with whom you will treasure; many of you know that Sullivan has been prepared to give Elon's Commencement speech as the designated back-up speaker, since 1980 " the year many of you graduates were born; finally his moment has arrived in your graduating class of 2002; Sullivan's long quiet service of waiting in the wings for 22 years has been the subject of much media interest "The Wall Street Journal covered him, CNN Headline News ran a video piece (Elon's University has an off-air recording of the CNN video piece-copyrights), and NBC " The Today Show interviewed Sullivan at 7:45am; Sullivan has been a member of the Philosophy Department, since 1970; his (Sullivan) interest has been campus wide; he was a champion of innovative teaching, learning, global studies, and connecting knowledge to experience; Elon would not be where it is today in 2002 without Sullivan; and Sullivan was introduced to the audience. 00:19:35 Sullivan's comments included: His opening line "Wellit has been a long time coming. For you, for me, and for Elon, you are the first class graduating from Elon as Elon University with the change happening last year, June 1, 2001; most of you know that I have been the back-up speaker as long as you have been alive; during this time Elon, itself, has felt at times like a back-up college; a back-up to other colleges; a back-up to other universities; here and now, as I stand with you and you stand with me, in the power of this family, I say, "Back-up NO More, We are the A-Team now;" ancient traditions were given through story telling; stories of a time that were always present; Sullivan told a Once Upon a Time story when a leader would die, a bird was released and the bird would fly around in the air and above the subjects and it would alight on one of them, even a slave; stories of growing up or as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would say Free at Last; if we are honest we know we are not free, we are enslaved by old habits, old ways of relating, destructive roles, patterns of blaming and having to be right; the first task is to be aware of how we restrict ourselves and others, to be aware and drop these patterns and come to life; we long to be free; in becoming free, one steps up to service for the community; to be free is to serve units larger than yourself; if your education is truly liberating "you begin to see yourself" we are co-responsible to make Elon and the world what it is and what it can be Phoenix Rising; "to care for a sphere larger than yourself; bring order into life by encouraging creativity and assisting the young; you become free in order to serve; how to handle adversity; you are linked to the oak roots below and the oak leaves above; let the drum remind you of your own heartbeat; let your heartbeat remind you of your most treasured possessions" to be free, to be of service, and not to forget where you came from, so you can meet everyone with a compassionate heart; and God speed & may the Phoenix that each of you are Catch the Fire. Conferring of Degrees was presented by Provost Gerry (Gerald) Francis, Russell B. Gill, Mary Jo Festle and Conferred by President Lambert. Gerry Francis made an announcement about taking photographs. Francis said, "We are going to delay for the Elon University train (applause)." The train can be heard. In addition, the Amtrak train can be seen traveling on the tracks. 00:40:07 Graduates begin to receive their diplomas. The Elon Alma Mater was led by Nathan J. Moore. The Elon Charge to the Graduating Class of 2002 was given by Lambert. Lambert's comments included: Will the Class of 2002 please stand; commencement is a bitter sweet time; we congratulate you; we are proud of your success; you are a part of the Elon family; we are sorry to see you leave; we have watched you change from teenagers to young men and women, prepared to take your places in the world; there are nearly 900 of you from 36 states and 5 international nations; you will soon be going in many different directions; we have a graduation gift for you" it is a tradition that each member of the graduating class receives an oak tree sapling, a very young oak tree " "we like the symbolism; Elon is the Hebrew word for oak; Elon was founded 112 years ago; in the next few days, we will plant almost 900 oak trees all over the United States; plant your tree in an open space, give it some attention and protection, and one of these days, your children will climb it (the oak tree) and your grandchildren will swing on it; you will have your own Elon Oak; keep in touch with Elon; there are those here that care deeply about you; Elon is your point of contact with friends and associates; be proud of Elon and support it on every occasion; you have the responsibility to keep Elon strong for your successors; congratulations and you are officially alumni of Elon University; "Good-Bye, Good Luck, and God Speed; and LONG, LIVE, ELON." The new Elon Alumni repeat, Long, Live, Elon. The Recessional was The Triumphal March from Aida, Giuseppe Verdi, Lobet den Herrn mit Pauken und Zimbeln Schoen, Sigfrid Karg-Elert. Names included: Mary Alice Bragg, organ; Brass Quintet: Paul Randall, trumpet, Tim Stewart, trumpet, Kimberley Van Pelt, horn, Michael Kris, trombone, Tony Granados, tuba; Fanfare Trumpets, Karl Kassner, Paul Neebe, and Van Zimmerman. Some visuals included: brass playing trumpets, graduates standing for degrees, Rexford (Rex) Waters standing among the graduates, audience standing to applaud the new Elon graduates, faculty processing, students sitting in seats, Dr. J. Earl Danieley standing on the platform, and a time-lapse from West window of setting-up commencement, and commencement departure. This video was a production of Elon Television