©2013 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Knox Grads Have Their Special Day -- DOWNLOAD COMMENCEMENT AUDIO HERE |
The 172nd class to pass through a local college were welcomed to their new stage of life as Knox College celebrated their graduation day. Family and friends of graduates stood and applauded the seniors as Knox College President Roger Taylor officially welcomed the new alumni to a world full of opportunity.
Knox's commencement speaker was U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick J. Fitzgerald, most recently known for handing down federal indictment charges against now former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for allegedly plotting to sell an appointment to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by current President Barack Obama.
Fitzgerald was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and told the class of 2009 to go out in the world and work hard at something you enjoy.
"I actually ran into a mafioso walking into court trying to bring some research to a prosecutor who didn't know who I had nearly knocked over. I thought this is a great job. I though to myself if I came back in a different life than I'd go do that great job, but why would I do something that didn't pay the most I could possibly earn. I decided to join the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York, and for that moment forward, I've been a prosecutor for 21 years, and not one day has been sacrifice.
Fitzgerald says he was grateful to receive his honorary degree from an institution with such a famed past. Others receiving honorary degrees were Garry Wills, Doctor of Humane Letters, and Billy Wayne Geer, Doctor of Science.
Dennis M. Synder was presented with the Caterpillar Faculty Achievement Award while Sean Bullock represented his classmates as the senior class speaker.
To hear the speech of Patrick J. Fitzgerald CLICK HERE (mp3 format).
To listen to the senior class speaker Sean Bullock CLICK HERE (mp3 format).
(U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick J. Fitzgerald prepares to walk in front of Knox College's Class of 2009)
(The procession begins for the graduates of the Knox College Class of 2009)
(Students walk to take their seats as the Knox College Class of 2009)
(Patrick J. Fitzgerald receiving his honorary degree from Knox College)
(Knox College President Roger Taylor welcomes the newest alumni at Knox's commencement ceremony Saturday)
(Patrick J. Fitzgerald addresses the media after he spoke to students at the Knox College graduation Saturday)
(WGIL News Story and Photos by Dominic Fortini.) |
|
| 06 06 09 by Newsroom |
Share
Click here for the WGIL News Archive
Click here for national news
All AP stories are Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.
.PNG)