Commencement speakers are often considered inspiring because they impart wisdom gained through experiences that take place outside the boundaries of GW's campus. But a few GW students, professors and administrators who acted as keynote speakers at this weekend's individual school graduations proved this norm is not absolute
Saturday morning, Frank Sesno spoke to Columbian College graduates at Smith Center. Sesno, a professor of Media and Public Affairs, is also a special correspondent for CNN.
He joined the GW faculty this fall, and has brought several speakers to campus including White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
Sesno instructed students to embrace the world of modern technology, and to use their college education to exract valuable knowledge.
"GW is where you learn how to make sense out of a world of information," Sesno said. He added that no one should take the information he or she receives for granted.
Sesno said students should look analytically at what they see and hear every day.
"Take one little nugget (of information) each day and drill down into it, ask questions about it," Sesno said.
James Scott, dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, told graduates to constantly question their surroundings at the school's ceremony Saturday afternoon. He said while many of these questions have easy answers, it is more difficult to resolve why students choose their profession.
"I think it is important that you spend some time asking why this is still important to me," Scott said. "I would hope that your answer has to do with caring and compassion and change and making a difference."
Scott emphasized that students should not use their degrees and the skills they have gained as a way to distinguish themselves from the people they treat.
"It's not about prestige. It's not about money. It's about caring and truly making a difference," he said.
Saturday morning, Frank Sesno spoke to Columbian College graduates at Smith Center. Sesno, a professor of Media and Public Affairs, is also a special correspondent for CNN.
He joined the GW faculty this fall, and has brought several speakers to campus including White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
Sesno instructed students to embrace the world of modern technology, and to use their college education to exract valuable knowledge.
"GW is where you learn how to make sense out of a world of information," Sesno said. He added that no one should take the information he or she receives for granted.
Sesno said students should look analytically at what they see and hear every day.
"Take one little nugget (of information) each day and drill down into it, ask questions about it," Sesno said.
James Scott, dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, told graduates to constantly question their surroundings at the school's ceremony Saturday afternoon. He said while many of these questions have easy answers, it is more difficult to resolve why students choose their profession.
"I think it is important that you spend some time asking why this is still important to me," Scott said. "I would hope that your answer has to do with caring and compassion and change and making a difference."
Scott emphasized that students should not use their degrees and the skills they have gained as a way to distinguish themselves from the people they treat.
"It's not about prestige. It's not about money. It's about caring and truly making a difference," he said.
