The Very Revered Nathan Baxter to speak at Dartmouth Baccalaureate Ceremony Saturday, June 8

Posted 05/29/02

Commencement weekend at Dartmouth is rich in tradition and history, bringing the College community together to honor the achievements of graduating students. One of the highlights of the weekend is the Baccalaureate service, a multifaith religious service of thanksgiving and celebration for the completion of undergraduate and graduate careers.

This year, the Baccalaureate program features distinguished keynote speaker The Very Reverend Nathan D. Baxter, Dean of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Held in Rollins Chapel and sponsored by Dartmouth's Tucker Foundation, Baccalaureate takes place at 3 p.m. on the Saturday of Commencement weekend. The graduates, their families and the campus community are invited to attend.

Elected the sixth dean of the Cathedral in 1991, Baxter is a third generation clergyman. As dean, he is the chief priest and executive officer of the world's sixth largest Cathedral, which receives more than one million visitors and worshipers each year. The Cathedral, chartered by Congress in 1891, includes three schools, a theological college and several related cultural service organizations.

Reverend Baxter presided at the nationally-televised memorial service for Sept. 11 victims last year. On Sept. 14, the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, he stated, "In this time of indescribable emotional and physical suffering we must steel ourselves against the despair that is the greatest threat to our security and peace. All the world's great religions teach that revenge and despair simply fuel more violence and pain, and I encourage all people to seek solace in their religious faith and to pray for the grace to bear up under the weight of this tragedy and to be sustained by faith now and in the days to come."

Campus ministers and advisors representing many of the religious traditions and student religious organizations at Dartmouth join the selected speakers at Baccalaureate.

On June 8, Baxter joins other notable Commencement weekend speakers:

• Dartmouth Medical School investiture speaker: Vermont Governor Howard Dean. 9 a.m., Derzon Courtyard at DMS (front lawn). (Rain location and time: Leede Arena, 11:30 a.m.)
• Thayer School of Engineering investiture speaker: Jeffrey Immelt, a 1978 graduate of Dartmouth who is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric Co. 10 a.m., Cook Auditorium.
• Tuck School of Business investiture speaker: Peter R. Dolan, a 1980 graduate of the Tuck School who is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. 3 p.m., Tuck Circle. (Rain location: Leede Arena).

On June 9, Fred McFeely Rogers, better known as "Mister Rogers," will deliver the main address at Dartmouth College's 2002 Commencement exercises, which will begin at 10 a.m. on the Dartmouth Green.