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Largest Class in College History to Graduate this Saturday

Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Senator Jeanne Shaheen

College Welcomes Senator Shaheen as Keynote Speaker and Bestows Granite State Award and Honorary Doctor of Science During Ceremony

Keene State College will honor the class of 2013 during its Commencement ceremony this weekend. This class is the largest in Keene State College history. At least 1,219 degrees will be awarded to 1,146 graduates in the class of 2013. Keene State’s Commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 11. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. on Fiske Quad.

“We are proud of this year’s graduates for many reasons. Their academic accomplishments and leadership development at Keene State is indicative of the promise they hold going forward after they leave our campus,” said Keene State College Interim President, Jay Kahn. “There are many stories I could share about the future of students in this graduating class, and I’ll name just a few now: A computer science student will begin his job at Google this summer, two students will be working for City Year, one of our biology students will begin her PhD program at Ohio State University, and a safety and occupational health applied sciences student was hired by International Paper as a safety director. As soon-to-be Keene State alumni, members of this year’s class have the foundation for meaningful, productive lives, and are prepared to be actively engaged in their communities through civic discourse and readiness to enter the professional workforce.”

US Senator Jeanne Shaheen is the keynote speaker this year, sending off the class of 2013. “I’m incredibly excited to be speaking to this year’s graduating class at Keene State College,” said Senator Shaheen. “It’s an honor to have a role in what will be such an important day for so many young people and their families. I’m looking forward to addressing this year’s graduates and celebrating all of their accomplishments.”

During Commencement, Margaret Russell Ramsay, Keene State College alumna of 1956, former NH House representative and dedicated volunteer with Keene State and the State of New Hampshire, will receive the Granite State Award. The Honorary Doctor of Science will be presented to Dr. Fernand Prevost, Keene State alumnus of 1957 and influential contributor to mathematics education in New Hampshire. Both recipients will speak during the ceremony.

Margaret Russell Ramsay, Granite State Award recipient, has been a dedicated volunteer in service of Keene State College and the State of New Hampshire, serving in many capacities over many years. Ms. Ramsay began her professional life as a teacher, teaching in Marlborough and Keene. She was elected to the Keene State College Alumni Board of Directors in 1969, and served as that body’s president from 1970 to 1972. During her tenure, Ms. Ramsay worked to complete the renovation of the College Camp on Wilson Pond. She also represented Keene State Alumni on the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) Board of Trustees for eight years, beginning in 1970. From 1976 until 1988, she served as the Swanzey representative to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, serving on the Arts and Education Committee, among many others, during which time she worked to collect support and funding for the Redfern Arts Center on Brickyard Pond. In 1983, Ms. Ramsay received the Sprague W. Drenan Award, given annually to alumni for their participation in and support of alumni activities. In 1984, she was one of only 75 recipients of the College’s Jubilee Medallion, awarded to those who had contributed to Keene State’s success in its first 75 years. In 1988, Ms. Ramsay returned to Keene State for a decade, serving students first as the continuing education coordinator and later in the office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs. She was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Keene Endowment Association beginning in 1972 and was the Association’s president from 1990 to 2004, managing the independent charitable entity in its mission of providing assistance to deserving students at Keene State.

Dr. Fernand Prevost, Honorary Doctor of Science recipient, is recognized for his contributions to mathematics education over 50 years on regional, state, and national stages, as well as for his service to the College as an alumnus. Dr. Prevost served for 30 years as the New Hampshire State Mathematics Consultant. In this role, he touched the lives of countless mathematics teachers and students at all grade levels. He often presented workshops for teachers with a vision of making New Hampshire mathematics classrooms vibrant and dynamic learning centers. Fifty years ago, Dr. Prevost and mathematics education colleagues established the New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics Association (NHTM). In 1994, NHTM recognized Dr. Prevost for his service to the profession by creating the Fernand J. Prevost Mathematics Teaching Award. This award is given annually to a New Hampshire mathematics teacher in her/his first, second, or third year who meets criteria based on characteristics that Dr. Prevost exemplified in his own teaching. Dr. Prevost has also contributed to mathematics education on a national level via his work with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and with the Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics (ASSM). In 2007, the Mathematics Departments of the University System of New Hampshire came together to honor him for his outstanding contributions to mathematics education. He also received the Granite State Award from what was then Plymouth State College in 1985. Dr. Provost cites his education at Keene State College as a foundation for his success in teaching. In the 56 years since his graduation, he has brought great recognition not only to the discipline of mathematics education but also to Keene State.

For more information about this year’s Commencement program, visit http://www.keene.edu/commencement/.

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