Let the Celebration Begin!
College of Science Salutes the Fall Class of 2016
College of Science administrators, faculty and graduates close the ceremony by singing
the Alma MaterPhoto provided by Kathryn Loveless
The LSU College of Science celebrated the achievements of our outstanding undergraduate and graduate students during its fall diploma ceremony held Friday, December 16 at 9 am in the Maddox Fieldhouse. Isiah Warner, LSU Boyd Professor in the Department of Chemistry and vice president for the Office of Strategic Initiatives, gave the keynote address.
Warner used the mythical Sankofa bird from the country of Ghana to share his philosophy on life. The bird, depicted flying forward with its head looking backwards, is a reminder to keep moving forward as we remember our past, and the egg in its mouth represents the future.
“The Sankofa symbol suggests that one must revisit or understand the past in order to effectively proceed toward and protect the future, which is the egg,” Warner said.
Warner said that the bird symbolizes his own philosophy in life since it represents most of the important views that he has come to value. The speaker shared his own variation of the Sankofa philosophy with the graduates, which is divided into three distinct categories. The first was follow your passion.
“Do not be afraid to venture outside of the norm. Do not worry about success and happiness, since these will automatically follow if you are truly passionate about your career path,” Warner said.
He urged the graduates to remember and learn from the past. “Success in the future depends on the past. If you forget the past, you may repeat the negatives in your life.” He also encouraged the graduates to remember the strong educational foundation that they have received at LSU and to use that foundation to build a strong and positive future.
The final category of Warner’s Sankofa philosophy is sustain and protect the future. “Mentors were in place for you along your journey; therefore, mentor and protect others along the way. In essence, make the world a better place for future generations,” Warner said.
During the ceremony, 25 students received PhDs, 14 received master’s degrees and 113 received bachelor’s degrees. The college’s fall class of 2016 included students from eight countries, 13 states and 27 parishes within Louisiana. Below are more statistics about the graduates.
- 53% of the undergraduates are women
- 47% of the undergraduate are men
- 30% of the graduates are women
- 70% of the graduate are men
Of our 113 bachelor’s degree recipients, 19 earned Latin honors, four earned the University Medal, LSU’s highest honor, and one earned college honors, the highest recognition given by the college and the LSU Honors College.