When they look back on their commencement ceremony, the members of the College of Arts and Science's Class of 2003 will remember the caps, the speeches, and, most of all, the festive -- if not chilly --atmosphere.
The ceremony started at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Franklin Field. There, a crowd of approximately 15,000 cheered as the former seniors officially became Penn graduates.
"Class of 2003, your school is proud of you," School of Arts and Science Dean Samuel Preston said in the ceremony's first speech.
The outgoing Dean of the College, Richard Beeman, also offered his own words of encouragement to the graduates. But while Beeman offered the traditional congratulations, he focused more on the role that the former students will hold in the proverbial "real world."
"You are the last class of the old millennium," Beeman said. "You are going to be the first real global citizens of the world -- and that's a daunting task."
Following this trend, College graduate Marian Braccia delivered the student speech, which also concentrated on the realities of the 21st century. In particular, she emphasized the value of diversity and the importance of the role her fellow classmates would take on in the world beyond college.
"Penn has helped us formulate a vision of global harmony," Braccia said. "It has given us an experience of diversity that mimics the diversity of the real world. We are a kaleidoscope of nationalities and religions."
Finally, Lorene Cary -- the distinguished speaker for the evening and a senior lecturer in the department of English -- gave the final speech, with a special regard to the differences that a Penn education can make in the community.
"We need to go forth -- emotionally, intellectually and politically," Cary said. "Be fruitful with this expensive education."
After the speeches, graduates were individually called on the stage and given their diplomas, along with the departmental and program faculty congratulations.
The ceremony ended with the University's anthem, the "Red and Blue."
