This Sunday, June 6th, 2020 Hobart and William Smith graduates will be getting their commencement.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges will present honorary doctorates to the Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry ’75, who will also deliver the 2020 Commencement address; philanthropist and advocate for increased female leadership Margaret “Peggy” Bokan Greenawalt ’66; and artist, activist and Historic Site Manager of Ganondagan State Historic Site G. Peter Jemison.
Curry is an advocate for inclusive and authentic ministry and has published several books including “Songs My Grandma Sang” and “The Power of Love.” Curry has led churches in various states and in 2000 was elected the 11th bishop of North Carolina.
Curry received a degree in religious studies from Hobart and completed Honors. He was a member of the Hobart Student Association. He went on to earn a master’s degree of divinity from Yale Divinity School. In 2016, he returned to HWS to participate in the President’s Forum and receive the Hobart Medal of Excellence, the Hobart College Alumni Association’s highest honor.
Margaret “Peggy” Bokan Greenwalt is a philanthropist devoted to supporting education, the arts, and the advancement of women in leadership roles. She’s worked high ranking positions in the finance industry, served on the board of directors for various not for profit organizations, and as a dedicated alumna of William Smith, she has generously supported the William Smith Centennial Fund and the Gearan Center for Performing Arts.
Greenwalt created the Margaret Greenwalt ’66 Annual Scholarship that will pay off a William Smith students student loan debt if they intend to pursue a career in finance and intern on Wall Street. She created the internship to encourage more women to enter the field of finance. She went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration with a focus on finance and marketing from Columbia Graduate School of Business after earning her bachelor’s in economics from William Smith.
G. Peter Jemison is a fine artist and member of the Heron Clan of the Seneca Nation. He is a leading authority on Iroquois history. Jemison is a classically trained painter who works with various types of media and explores political and social subjects as well as his own relationship with the natural world. He’s had his work appear in museum collections internationally.
Jemison is the historic site manager of the Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, the site of the original 17th century Seneca Town. He serves on the board of trustees for the National Museum of the American Indian and in 2009 was offered a blessing before the HWS exhibition lacrosse game which was held during the Native American Conference. He participated in the 2019 conversation discussing the relationship between the Colleges and Indigenous communities regarding the future of Hobart traditions.
Jemison studied at the University of Siena in Siena, Italy and attended Buffalo State College where he earned a bachelor’s in art education. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the State University of New York in 2003.
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