University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies grads told they are 'bravest of the brave'
May 13, 2008
Mary G. F. Bitterman, president of The Bernard Osher Foundation of San Francisco, told more than 260 graduates of the University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies today that she admires their bravery in overcoming obstacles to obtain a degree.
"With families to support, children to raise, mortgages to pay and working part- or full-time while trying to complete required coursework...as well as related apprenticeships, re-entry students are clearly the bravest of the brave," she said.
The foundation, which has endowed the university's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and SCS scholarships with more than $2 million in gifts, refocused itself from supporting traditional-age students to expanding access to higher education "for as many interested people as possible."
She said the foundation and its founder, Bernard Osher, "encourage and support people to realize their full potentials," to participate, to vote, to volunteer to help others and "to expand their understanding about the world in which we live."
Bitterman also received an honorary doctor of commercial science degree. In addition to serving as foundation president, she is a director and former board chair of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and a director of the Bank of Hawaii and Barclays Global Investors. She has produced several documentaries for public television and has written about public-service broadcasting, telecommunications development and the role of media in developing societies.
Speaking on behalf of the student body, Carolyn Kaufman of Hopewell, Va., told her fellow graduates to take their passion for learning and share it with others. That passion, she said, "became the force that drove us to do our best."
Maria Poindexter, adjunct assistant professor, received the 2008 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Faculty Award. She joined the SCS faculty in 2004 and teaches in the Human Resources Management program.
The Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award went to Fred Itzkowitz, who graduated from SCS in 1975 with a bachelor of commerce degree and in 1976 with a master of commerce degree. He is president of Straus, Itzkowitz & LeCompte Insurance Agency in Richmond.