Images from Cornell Senior Convocation
May 29, 2004
Photos by Robert Barker and Nicola Kontoupes, Cornell University Photography, and Susan Lang and David Brand, Cornell News Service
Click on an image for a larger version
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By 6:20 am, the line outside the crescent was already blocks long, out of sight. |
By the time former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Cornell President Jeffrey Lehman entered, the Crescent and the field were filled |
Lehman introduces Clinton |
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| Clinton and Lehman face the crowd |
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| Bill Clinton presents the senior convocation address |
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| A classic Clinton gesture |
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| Ifunanya "Funa" Maduka, the 2004 Perkins Prize winner, joined Clinton and Cornell president Jeffreey Lehman on stage during his speech. Helen Maduka (left) and her children Ifediora, Amaka and Nonso had the very best seats of the house (front row, center aisle), thanks to Maduka, who was the first to shake Clinton's hand at the pre-event reception. She sat and chatted on stage with Clinton throughout the ceremony. At the receiving line after the reception, Clinton shook hands with each of the Madukas, asked Ifediora and Amako how old they were and told Funa's mother that she has a remarkable daughter. |
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| Clinton receives the Cornell Medallion from David E. Jackson II, convocation chair |
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Esther Tang, senior class president and alumni co-president of the class of 2004, presented president Jeffrey Lehman with the class gift of $62,760.64 |
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| One of warmest audience members was Rachel Weitzman-Yeh, who has lived in Ithaca long enough to know to wear a fur-lined winter coat for the frosty May 29 morning. |
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| After the speech, Clinton moved along the front of the crowd shaking hands |
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| The crowd swarmed |
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| The old guard: Harold Tanner, left, emeritus chairman of the Cornell Board of Trustees, chatted with former Cornell president Hunter Rawlings |
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