Hamilton, NY — Republican presidential candidate U.S. Senator John McCain has accepted ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s invitation to address the graduating Class of 2000 at its Commencement on Sunday, May 21 in Hamilton, New York. ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s senior class is made up of nearly 700 students and the May event will stand as ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s 179th commencement ceremony.
‘It will be inspiring to hear the insights and advice from a man of such strong character and great charisma,’ said senior class president Devon Skerritt. ‘¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s first graduating class of the millennium looks forward to Senator McCain’s address and hearing from someone who has overcome great adversity to emerge as a leader.’ While on the campaign trail, McCain said, ‘The opportunity to address ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s graduating class is a privilege and an honor. I look forward to celebrating with the faculty and students of ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ their personal achievements, while reflecting on the critical role education plays in personal success and the success of our nation economically, intellectually, civically and morally.’
‘Throughout their four years at ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ, the students have not only learned how to reason, think and express themselves, they have learned to internalize the values that determine how we interact with one another in society,’ said Charles Karelis, ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ’s president. ‘Having Senator John McCain provide this year’s commencement address helps ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ underscore its message to students that intelligence, courage and leadership are all part of taking responsibility and charting a productive course for one’s life,’ he said. This is Karelis’ first commencement ceremony as president of ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ.
McCain is often described as carrying a message of conservative independent political reform. Prior to officially entering into politics, McCain was a career Navy man. While serving in Vietnam, McCain was shot down during a bombing mission over Hanoi and was held as a prisoner of war for 5 1/2 years. Upon his release, he returned to his work as a Naval Officer and it was through serving as a U.S. Navy Liaison Officer to the U.S. Senate in the early ’80s that McCain became interested in serving a political life. He retired from the Navy and then ran for and was elected to the United States House of Representatives from the state of Arizona in 1982. Four years later, he ran and was elected to the United States Senate. Last April, during his third term, McCain announced his candidacy for President of the United States. In late July of this year, The Republican National Convention will gather in Philadelphia, PA to announce and endorse the party’s nomination for the President of the United States.
Founded in 1819, ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ is a nationally ranked, highly selective, residential, liberal arts college. Situated on a rolling 515-acre campus in central New York State, ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ attracts motivated students with diverse backgrounds, interests and talents from all over the United States.
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