Finale 2013

Do the right thing.

That was the message Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf delivered when he took the stage in 1992 during the dedication ceremony for the nation’s first undergraduate school of leadership studies.

Robert S. Jepson Jr., the visionary founder of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, recalled Schwarzkopf’s talk that day and shared the same message with graduates May 11 at Finale, the School’s senior recognition ceremony. The ceremony recognizes seniors for outstanding scholarship and service.

“His theme was simply do the right thing. Today I come to you with the same message,” he said.

“First, let me say that so far in life you have most certainly done the right things. You have all excelled in your secondary education, have chosen a wonderful teaching institution for your collegiate education and, with your enrollment in the School of Leadership Studies, have bravely chosen a path less traveled.”

Jepson reminisced about the creation of the School and shared with students the vision he had that took shape more than two decades ago. He also encouraged students to look at leadership as a personal responsibility and to be brave enough to fail.

“I hope you have learned that leadership is an active and constant process,” he told seniors. “Leaders are much like pioneers and you, more than most, understand that leaders must step out into the unknown to forge important new ideas.”

Jepson told students that now, more than ever, the world needs great leaders and people who are willing to make good decisions. Jepson students view the world somewhat differently than do others, he said.

“You see yourselves, we hope, with a responsibility to make the world a better place,” he said. “Without a doubt, you have the intellect and the training to pull it off.”

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Awards

James MacGregor Burns Award, the Jepson School’s highest honor
Julie Yermack

The Fredric M. Jablin Award for Undergraduate Research
Honors Thesis: Tweed and a Bow Tie: What Makes a Professor
Julie Yermack

Finale Ceremony