Dr. Jim Vigoreaux, Biology Chair
Blessed with a brilliant blue Vermont sky and bathed in the sweet fragrance of blooming lilacs, the University of Vermont celebrated its 205th Commencement on May 17, 2009 on the campus green. The Biology Department graduates were well represented among the more than 2,700 students receiving their degrees. Seventy-two students received their B.A. or B.S. degrees in Zoology, Biology, Biological Science or Environmental Science. Our graduate program was honored to confer the doctoral degree to three outstanding students, Dr. Laura Hill Bermingham, Dr. Ryan W. Norris, and Dr. Anne M. Vardo-Zalik.
The Class of 2009, faculty, and guests were officially greeted by Ian D. Boyce (UVM Class of 1989), Chair of the UVM Board of Trustees. Earlier in the week Mr. Boyce was hosted by the Biology Department where he was recognized as the 2009 Biology Undergraduate Accomplished Alum Award winner. Mr. Boyce received a B.A. in Zoology and a minor in Economics in 1989 and went on to play nine seasons of professional hockey after being selected in the draft by the Buffalo Sabres. In a light-hearted lunch conversation with the Department 2009 Honor students, Mr. Boyce recounted how the foundations of his scientific training in analytical and statistical analyses paved the way for his now successful career as a financial advisor and planner. Mr. Boyce is a member of the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (Midwest Board), and the Financial Planning Association. The Department also recognized Dr. Paul N. Black, Professor and Chair of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, as its 2009 Accomplished Graduate Alum.
During the graduation ceremony several department majors were recognized for their high academic achievements. Holly M. Stradecki, Cum Laude and the 2009 John Wheeler Award winner, and Allison T. Neal, Summa Cum Laude and the 2009 Lyman S. Rowell Award winner, graduated as Green and Gold Scholars. Jennifer L. Glenister, Magna Cum Laude and 2009 Paul A. Moody Award winner, and Anna E. Kufner, Magna Cum Laude, graduated as members of Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society dedicated to honoring high academic achievement for liberal arts students. All of these graduates had significant research experiences that enriched their curriculum and provided opportunities for inquiry and discovery. These are just a few examples that speak to the dedication and scholarship of our graduating class. We congratulate them all.
In a morning full of highlights, we awaited with great excitement the announcement by Provost John Hughes of the first University Distinguished Professors. Our very own Judith Van Houten, the George H. Perkins Professor of Zoology, was among the first four faculty members to be named University Distinguished Professor, a new honorific title conferred upon a select number of professors who have attained an international reputation in the areas of teaching, research, scholarship, and service. During her more than twenty-five years at UVM, Professor Van Houten has served the university in many different capacities and has been one of the most prolific recipients of federal grants, many of which have been directed at enhancing the research infrastructure of UVM and Vermont. Her research in chemoreception has garnered her many awards and international recognition. We have been privileged, and very spoiled, to have Professor Van Houten among our ranks. We congratulate her wholeheartedly on this well deserved honor.
