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Sarasota News Leader May 31, 2013 Page 55 NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES LARGEST CLASS IN ITS HISTORY The largest graduating class in the history of New College of Florida — 197 students — received Bachelor of Arts degrees in a sunset ceremony Friday evening, May 24, on the great lawn along the college's scenic bayfront, New College has announced. state, the nation, or the world — that we live in?" Williams said. "Are we doing all we can to be inclusive to all who may seem different? To welcome new ideas, and a new way of looking at the world?" The graduating class — the first under President Donal O'Shea — also heard from biology Professor Leo Demski, who is retiring from teaching, and from student Brittani "Brie" McLemore, selected by her classmates to provide the student address. "With this year's commencement, New College also reached a milestone of 5,000 graduates since its founding," a news release notes. "The first graduating class, in 1967, comprised just 47 students," the release adds. This was the college's 47th commencement. This year's class included six Fulbright scholThis year's graduates received not only diplo- ars, who will travel to Germany, Sweden, Taimas, but also a challenge to advance fairness wan and the Czech Republic to teach or conand diversity, from keynote speaker Charles tinue their studies, as well as six students who E. Williams, Circuit Court judge of the 12th Cir- will serve as teaching assistants in France under awards from the French Embassy, and a cuit of Florida. State Department Critical Language scholar "We must look around at every gathering — who will study in Morocco, the release points including this one — and constantly ask our- out. More than half of the graduating class is selves the question, does this gathering truly expected to enter programs for a master's derepresent the diversity of the community, the gree or doctorate within a year. New College of Florida is located on Bay Shore Road in Sarasota. Image courtesy of New College The Bayfront Campus is home to the two historic Charles Ringling mansions, Cook and College halls. Image courtesy of New College