Commencement speaker Bogart celebrates “A Long-Expected Party” with 2020 grads
May 8, 2021
Maryville College President Emeritus Dr. William T. “Tom” Bogart returned to campus May 8, 2021 to celebrate the commencement for the MC Class of 2020 – the last senior class during his tenure as MC president.
Bogart, who is now the president of Columbia College in Columbia, S.C., led Maryville College from 2010 until June 2020, and was set to preside over MC’s commencement last May before the COVID-19 pandemic postponed it. He presided over a virtual commencement ceremony last Spring and, at the request of members of the Class of 2020, returned to give the commencement address during Saturday’s in-person event.
Approximately 250 members of the Maryville College Class of 2020 were recognized during the May 8 in-person ceremony, held on the College’s Honaker Field.
Bogart’s address, titled “A Long-Expected Party,” references a chapter in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
“Of course, one of the hallmarks of a liberal arts education is that we can keep adding to it, so if you think graduating from Maryville College is the end of your education, be assured that it’s not,” Bogart said. “It is regularly noted that while there are countless stories, there are only a small number of categories into which those stories fall. My favorite is the assertion that there are, in fact, only two types of story. The first is ‘a hero embarks on a journey’ and the second is ‘a stranger comes to town.’
“Your matriculation at Maryville College, even for those of you from nearby or who grew up knowing about the school, is an example of ‘a stranger comes to town.’ I hope that you took full advantage of the opportunity here,” Bogart continued. “Your graduation, naturally, is ‘a hero embarks on a journey.’ The Lord of the Rings does involve a hero setting out on a journey. But that’s not how the book begins. The first chapter of the book is titled ‘A Long-Expected Party.’ That seemed so appropriate to our situation today – as we celebrate your graduation a year after the pandemic caused our celebration to be postponed – that I made it the title of my talk.”
The party in the book, Bogart said, is a birthday party for Bilbo Baggins – but unbeknownst to almost everyone in the audience, it is also a farewell party for Baggins.
“Graduation, too, is both a celebration for the graduates and a farewell party,” Bogart said. “But Bilbo’s farewell party is just the opening chapter in a very long book. And today’s commencement celebration is not only the end of the story of your time as a student here, but more importantly the beginning of the rest of the exciting adventure of the book of your life.”
Bogart said that “each person is the protagonist in the story of their life” – and in making choices about one’s own story and how to relate to others, the key is to discern wisely.
“Discernment is part of what led you to Maryville College, and enhanced ability to discern the right path is an important part of what you gain from your time here,” he said.
“Our shared experience of the COVID-19 pandemic lends added emphasis to this point,” Bogart added. “Think back to March, April and May 2020. Are we going to tell a story of a semester ruined, or a story of resilience and accomplishment in the face of difficult circumstances? Are we going to be annoyed at improvised solutions to the impossibility of getting together in person, or are we going to be grateful to the faculty, staff, and students who worked so hard to help everyone make the best of this time? I know my choice, especially on a day like today, when Maryville College has given us the chance to gather in person one more time.”
Bogart shared two observations about the end of The Lord of the Rings and the Class of 2020’s commencement. First, going home might not be what you expected it to be, and second, the end of the story is not necessarily the end, he said.
“The work so heroically accomplished in one setting only serves to prepare us for different work that needs to be done in another setting,” Bogart said. “And after that work is done, there are still further challenges to face. The good news is that we won’t be bored. The challenge is that we will never finish the work.
“An important chapter of my story at Maryville College ended in 2020, as did yours,” Bogart concluded. “And our journey beyond Maryville College has begun. Rejoice in the Lord always, and don’t worry. As we tell the story of our time here, let us focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. I am happy that there is so much to tell, and hope that is always the case here and wherever you go.”
Bogart’s MC Tenure Spanned 10 Years
Bogart has served as Columbia College’s 20th president since October 1, 2020. He holds a B.A. degree in economics and mathematical sciences from Rice University. He received his A.M. and Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University, and he completed studies at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University in 2010.
Bogart’s professional history includes work at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) from 1990 to 2002 as a member of the faculty in the Weatherhead School of Management. While at CWRU, he served as chair of the Department of Economics and as a research associate of the Center for Regional Economic Issues. He received numerous teaching awards during his time at CWRU. He then served for eight years as dean of academic affairs at York College of Pennsylvania before being named president of Maryville College in 2010.
Highlights of Bogart’s 10-year tenure at Maryville College include: leading two campus-wide strategic planning efforts, helping to secure the largest gift in the history of the college and increasing annual fund giving by 40%, increasing net assets from $77 million to $145 million, increasing the endowment from $51 million to $91 million, and operating with a net unrestricted budget surplus every year. The College received multiple awards for beautification, sustainability and climate change initiatives, added benefits to same-gender partners, and increased student diversity through Scots Science Scholars program (NSF funded) and “Dreamer” initiative in partnership with Equal Chance for Education.
During his time at Maryville College, Bogart served as treasurer of the Appalachian Colleges Association, Chair of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, board member of Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, executive committee of USA South Athletic Conference and on several SACSCOC accreditation visiting teams.
Bogart has written various articles and publications in the field of economics with special focus on urban economic development, the impact of school quality and public policy on housing markets, and evolving metropolitan structure.
Honorary Doctorates Presented
Two honorary degrees were presented during the ceremony on May 8.
“At Maryville College, honorary degrees are bestowed upon individuals to recognize and honor outstanding service in education, to society, and to the larger world community,” said Maryville College President Dr. Bryan F. Coker. “We are so pleased that, today, we will be honoring two highly deserving individuals.”
Bogart received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Maryville College alumnus and former Maryville Mayor Tom Taylor ’70, who delivered an abbreviated commencement address during the Class of 2020’s virtual ceremony last May, received an honorary doctor of public service degree.
Maryville College Faculty Recognized
During commencement exercises, recognition was also given to faculty members for outstanding service during the 2019-20 academic year.
“Normally at this point, in any pre-COVID commencement ceremony, we would take a moment to honor two faculty members for their outstanding teaching,” said Dr. Dan Klingensmith, vice president and dean of the College. “We do this to affirm that, even while faculty research and service are essential, the emphases of Maryville College above all else are teaching and learning. As dean, I would read a paragraph about each of the winners, at the end of which I would announce their names. But of course, I did that during the virtual commencement held a year ago.”
Klingensmith recognized two faculty members who were honored during last year’s virtual commencement ceremony: The Outstanding Teacher Award, the recipient of which is nominated by juniors and seniors at the College, went to Dr. Nikki Hilton, assistant professor of counseling psychology. Maryville College Professor of Biology Dr. Drew Crain was recognized as the runner-up for the Outstanding Teacher Award.
Grads return
Approximately 125 of the 246 members of the Class of 2020 returned for the ceremony. Among them were Aaron Solomon ’20, a Bonner Scholar and president of the Student Government Association during his time at MC, who read Scripture from Philippians 4:4-8, and Senior Class President Jordan Muse ’20, who gave the welcome and recognized the perseverance of his classmates.
“There’s no secret that this past year has been difficult,” Muse said. “Whether you know it or not, you all have been an inspiration. You’ve inspired me, you’ve inspired classmates, and you you’ve inspired those that come after you.
“In a year of such turmoil, we have people in this crowd who are working their way through graduate and PhD programs. We have people in the crowd who have managed to find careers and start businesses in this depleted job market. We even have people who are in the beginning stage of creating their own app,” he continued. “And I am so proud and honored to stand here and call those people my peers.”
Charge to the Class of 2020
In his charge to the Class of 2020, Coker told the graduates to depart from the College with more than a diploma.
“Leave here, shaped by your experiences, and dedicated to making this world a better place. Certainly, this world needs you, now more than ever before,” Coker said. “Go forth from the campus gates, knowing that you will always have a home here … here where Chilhowee’s lofty mountains pierce the Southern blue. Go forth knowing that good, thoughtful and loving words have been spoken for you here, in this place filled with hopes, dreams, teachers, mentors, coaches and friends.
“And as you go forth, we hope you will return often in the years to come – return and share with us your successes and your struggles, just as you have done during your years here,” Coker continued. “In the words of our founder, go forth always endeavoring to ‘do good on the largest possible scale.’”
