The University of Colorado at Boulder awarded degrees to thousands of students during ceremonies Friday at Folsom Field.
University faculty conferred 5,488 degrees at the spring commencement as graduates whistled and family members cheered loudly.
Students entered the stadium wearing sandals, leis, Army fatigues and shorts, yakking excitedly on cellphones.
One student wearing plaid shorts lifted both fists in the air and hooted loudly as he entered. Another yelled “thanks for coming” at the throngs of family and friends in the stands. Parents leaned over the rails with cameras and video recorders, shouting names of students.
Students in threes and fours joined arms to pose.
“I hope it was worth the out-of-state tuition, Mom,” Chicago native Christopher Wittenborn, 22, who earned a degree in finance, yelled into the stands.
Sister Helen Prejean, author of the book “Dead Man Walking,” was among six people who were awarded honorary degrees by the university.
The others were: William E. Davis, David L. DiLaura, David Wilson Jr., Long-Sheng Ma and Dale N. Hatfield .
Jeanne P. Jackson, former chief executive of , Banana Republic and Gap Direct, delivered the commencement address, telling students she knew their generation well.
“I’ve sold more than a few khaki pants, Mickey Mouse ears and satin bras to you,” Jackson said. “I know that you prefer plain front pants to pleated pants.”
The 1974 CU-Boulder graduate in finance said this generation is self-confident, savvy and very blunt.
“You want meaning in what you do,” she said. “I love your generation.”
She urged the graduates to be the best salesmen and kindergarten teachers possible.
“Settle for no less,” she said.
Jackson also advised students to begin making their “bucket list” now, not when they are about to die. It was a reference to a movie about terminal illness, in which characters try to complete a list of lifetime goals before they “kick the bucket.”
Jackson is the general partner of MSP Capital, a consumer-goods strategy and investment firm she founded in 2003. She also serves on the boards of McDonald’s Corp., Nike Inc. and Nordstrom Inc.
Jackson has been recognized in Business Week’s “Top 25 Managers of the Year” and Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in American Business” and was included in Vanity Fair’s “America’s Most Influential Women.”
Degrees to be awarded include 4,293 bachelor’s degrees, 792 master’s degrees, 242 doctoral degrees and 161 law degrees.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
