Lebanon Valley College Graduates 370 Students

Nearly 370 students graduated from Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa., Saturday, May 11. Commencement ceremonies, held in the LVC Gymnasium, included an address by Dr. Philip Benesch, associate professor of political science and winner of the 2012 Thomas Rhys Vickroy Award for teaching.

Benesch encouraged graduates to take hold of the courage that is instilled by a liberal arts education-courage in inquiry, courage in self-transformation, and political courage. "We should embolden [students] to question their teachers and to endeavor to contribute to a discipline that remains open to growth and open to innovation. This requires an intellectually courageous approach by the student for which a liberal-arts education...provides an ideal preparation... A liberal arts education must enhance the independent capacity of each student to situate him or herself in the world, transforming it while performing within it... Democracy necessitates the education of each citizen, so that he or she may play a part in checking the power of leaders and evaluating the multiple viewpoints available. It is here that a liberal art education is so useful."

Local students include:

Cory D. Bissland of Pottstown, Pa. Bissland earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology. Bissland is a graduate of Owen J. Roberts High School .

Heather M. Smith of Pottstown, Pa. Smith earned a bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degree in music education and music. Smith was named to Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities and graduated magna cum laude . Smith is a graduate of Pottsgrove High School .

High resolution graduate headshots and additional event photos are available for download and use at www.flickr.com/lvc1866.

Lebanon Valley College® in Annville, Pa., welcomes 1,630 full-time undergraduates studying more than 30 majors, as well as self-designed majors. Founded in 1866, LVC has graduate programs in physical therapy, business, music education, and science education. Annville is 15 minutes east of Hershey and 35 minutes east of Harrisburg; Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are within two hours.On the web at www.lvc.edu.

This press release was provided by Lebanon Valley College.