Unity College lauds 109 graduates

One hundred-nine Unity College seniors received diplomas Saturday amidst environmentally-friendly surroundings.

Shortly after graduates were handed diplomas, each was given a tree seedling, which has become a tradition at the Unity campus, known as “America’s Environmental College.”

Student and faculty awards were presented and two men were recognized with honorary degrees, outgoing President Mark Lapping and author Bill McKibben.

Incoming President Mitchell Thomashow and his wife, Cindy, were introduced during the ceremony. Mitchell Thomashow is chairman of the environmental studies department and associate dean for institutional advancement at Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, N.H. On July 15, he takes over the helm at Unity College.

As commencement speaker, McKibben had much to say to students about making this earth a better place to live as they venture into the world, at work and at home. He spoke of cutting dependence on fossil fuels and changing the way we live to reduce global warming.

“Unless we change our habits, [earth] will be a very different planet indeed,” he said. “We need to figure out new ways to make energy.”

Even more than new technologies, “we need new behaviors,” McKibben said. “We need to learn to work a little bit closer to home.”

According to McKibben, the average European uses half the energy of Americans because they have learned to live life “a little richer in community and a little less individualistic.”

After a week of rainy days, the sun peeked through the clouds as graduates walked outdoors for a reception that featured fresh apples, bananas and healthful beverages under blossoming apple trees and lilac bushes ready to pop.