Hobart and William Smith Colleges

14 May 2012 Sailors Graduate Following Semi-Finals

While their fellow graduates from the Classes of 2012 were receiving their diplomas, Austen Anderson 12, Sam Blouin 12 and Chris Klevan 12 were helping the Hobart and William Smith Sailing Team earn a sixth place finish in the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) Eastern Semifinals in Annapolis, Md.

After earning the top placement that will send the HWS Sailing Team to the ICSA Coed Dinghy National Championships, the three seniors returned to campus on Monday, May 14, and received their diplomas during a small ceremony held at the house of President Mark D. Gearan and Mary Herlihy Gearan.

We are thrilled to hold this mini-Commencement; it is well-deserved in light of your academic and co-curricular successes, said Gearan to the graduates and their families. Yesterday was a great day in Geneva and it is in that same spirit, that same sense of community that marks HWS, that we gather here today.

You generation is marked by so much change and this is both a good thing and a challenging thing, explained Gearan. I told your classmates to surround themselves with friends, with big idea people, and a regenerative community of family members. I hope that you keep this in mind as you go on to lead lives of consequence.

Hobart Dean Eugen Baer also joined the gathering, offering his congratulations and words of advice. I am truly excited to be here at the completion of your academic and extracurricular careers, said Baer, who also read the names of the graduates while Gearan distributed the diplomas. You have achieved so much, and that takes great discipline.

Head Sailing Coach Scott Ikle, Assistant Sailing Coach Dan Thompson 08, Associate Professor of Dance Michelle Ikle, who serves as the teams Faculty Athletic Fellow, William Smith Dean Susanne McNally, Director of Hobart Athletics Mike Hanna and two fellow graduates, Alex Butti 12 and Patrick Kana 12, also attended the ceremony.

In the A Division of the semifinals, Blouin, Klevan and Catherine Pelo 13 finished sixth, falling only one point shy of fifth place. HWS started out strong in the A Division, claiming two victories and a second place finish in their first three races. They registered a total of seven top five finishes in their 14 races. HWS recorded a total of 158 points, finishing just one point behind fifth place Old Dominion and two points shy of fourth place finishers, No. 2 Charleston.

The ICSA Coed Dinghy National Championships will be held from June 6 to 8 in Austin, Texas.