The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Trent Campbell Dressed in caps and gowns, Febs rode up the Snow Bowl's ski lift last week en route to their special mid-year Feb celebration. [Click to enlarge]

Decked out in caps and gowns and braving the falling snow, wind and cold, the 110 students of the class of 2006.5 skied, snowboarded, snow shoed and slid down the Snow Bowl on Feb. 3 in a celebration to commemorate the end of their Middlebury careers. Cheered on by family, friends and members of the College community, the students gathered at the bottom of the slopes to receive honorary scrolls and pose for photos with their classmates one last time.

The ski-down celebration capped a weekend-long slate of events to celebrate the graduation of the Febs, who will earn their degrees upon the mid-year completion of their academic requirements on Mar. 1.

On Feb. 2, the Feb class gathered in the Center for the Arts for a reception held in their honor by President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz. At the reception, the class heard from Adrian Benepe '78.5, commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, who delivered the February Celebration Address.

In his speech, Benepe spoke to the class about preserving friendships made with fellow Febs, classmates and members of the College community, especially professors.

"Keep in touch with Middlebury…through the connection you have made to each other, and to this place," said Benepe. "The friendships you have made here may be the most lasting of your lives. Your life may take you far away…but chances are that you have been touched by this college and its people. And that touch lingers, even at the most random moments."

Benepe also invited students to "take a chance" in their professional careers, citing his work in the non-profit and government sectors as a rewarding experience.

"You have your entire life ahead of you to worry about making the right choices," said Benepe in the address. "This time immediately after college is a great time to take chances. If you are lucky, you will end up making money in something you enjoy. If you are very lucky, you will have a job that you enjoy that also makes other people's lives better."

Continued...

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