History Concentrators Graduation Reception 2008

The History Department was proud to host an afternoon graduation reception on Friday, April 25, 2008 to honor the History Class of 2008.  Nearly 100 of the 230 April and August 2008 graduates and their families filled the seats of MLB Auditorium 3 to celebrate their proud achievement.

Department Chair, Professor Mary Kelley, welcomed the guests and introduced the keynote speaker, David S. Evans (University of Michigan, 1985) who studied history as an undergraduate student at the university.He spoke of how the knowledge of history has been critical to his career in investment management (Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Chicago-based Leoville Holdings).

“You have to understand history to succeed – in life and in business. For me, that means understanding economic panic and crises, and looking at the great economic powers throughout time. Like any good historian, you don’t take things as they seem. Nothing is black and white.”

Two seniors were recognized for their special contributions to department undergraduate projects: Michael Herbach, editor-in-chief of the Michigan Journal of History, and Sarah Klaver, Phi Alpha Theta president and VP for the past two years.

Each graduating senior was invited to the stage for individual recognition. They were greeted with a well-deserved round of applause and presented with a certificate from the department by Professors John Carson and Matt Lassiter.  Refreshments followed the ceremony.

The faculty and staff of the History Department join the families in extending congratulations and best wishes for the future to each new historian in the Class of 2008.