Commencement 2011: President Finney's Message from Champlain College on Vimeo.

Dr. David F. Finney, president of Champlain College, delivers his message to the graduating class of 2011.

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Nearly 500 people received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Champlain College at two commencement ceremonies held May 6 and 7.

Champlain College President David F. Finney offered the Class of 2011 strong encouragement that they were ready to graduate, noting a long list of accomplishments they had already achieved while attending Champlain College. Degrees from the divisions of business, communication and creative media, continuing professional studies, education and human studies, and information technology and sciences were presented by the deans of each division.

Honorary degrees for public service were conferred on Quebec Premier Jean Charest and former Vermont Gov. James Douglas at Saturday's Commencement held at Memorial Auditorium.
Douglas delivered remarks on behalf of the honorary degree recipients to the Class of 2011 who received their bachelor and associate degree diplomas. Premier Charest delivered the commencement speech. Both men spoke about their work together to strengthen the economic and cultural ties between the two jurisdictions that share a border and a long history.

Finney also noted that the two honorary degree recipients are strong examples of how friendship, partnership and public service are keys to success.

"Our honored guests have played major leadership roles and both have exhibited a life-long commitment to public service. They have worked together as leaders and friends to bring trade, environmental, energy and cultural exchanges to the benefit of both Quebec and Vermont," said Finney.

"They are role models, international leaders and mentors to us all in fostering the spirit of higher education, community and public service. The honorary degree to Premier Charest also acknowledges the strong ties between Champlain College and Montreal, where one of our two study abroad campus is located," Finney added.

The ceremony included a procession of 420 graduates and faculty led by the Pipes and Drums of the St. Andrew's Society of Vermont, and an Alumni Welcome from Kristin J. Halpin '89; and Senior Address by David M. Madonna Jr. '11.

The college also held its eighth Hooding and Commencement on Friday, May 6 to confer 57 master's level degrees to students from across the country in five areas of study, masters of business administration, masters of science in digital investigation management, master of science in law degrees, master of science in managing innovation and information technology degree and master of science in mediation and applied conflict studies. The address to graduates was given by Steven Shepard, president of Shepard Communications Group in Williston, Vt.

Since 1878, Champlain College has provided career-focused education to students from its hilltop campus in Burlington, Vt. Champlain's distinctive educational approach embodies the notion that true learning only occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge.

Champlain offers traditional undergraduate and online undergraduate courses, along with online certificate and degree programs and eight master's degree programs. Champlain offers study abroad programs at its campuses in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland.

Champlain College will be included in the Princeton Review's "best colleges" guidebook, The Best 376 Colleges: 2012 Edition. Champlain was named a "Top-Up-and-Coming School" by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges and was ranked in the top tier of 2011 Regional Colleges in the North. To learn more about Champlain College, visit www.champlain.edu.

Commencement 2011: Premier Jean Charest's Address to the Graduates from Champlain College on Vimeo.

Premier Jean Charest of Quebec addresses the 2011 graduates of Champlain College at their commencement exercises.

Commencement 2011: James Douglas' Remarks on Behalf of the Honorary Degree Recipients from Champlain College on Vimeo.

The Honorable James H. Douglas, former governor of Vermont, makes remarks on behalf of the honorary degree recipients, himself and Premier Jean Charest of Quebec.