enlarge Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Jeany Kwon, left, Aurora Kurland and Jessica Kundrata applaud faculty during the 204th commencement ceremony at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Saturday. The college conferred five honorary degrees at the ceremony; recipients included noted playwright Edward F. Albee.

BRUNSWICK — Samantha L. Ollivierre-Scully admitted that she had a few second thoughts four years ago when Bowdoin College President Barry Mills spoke to the Class of 2009 about what the college could offer.

Mills, who was quoting a prior president of the college, mentioned "count(ing) nature a familiar acquaintance, and art an intimate friend" among the traits Bowdoin students could acquire during four years at the college.

Ollivierre-Scully said finding nature friendly was not something a teen from Brooklyn, N.Y., expected.

But, she told her fellow graduates Saturday, that happened, along with appreciating others' work, making dozens of friends, using the resources of the college and other attributes that William DeWitt Hyde, president of Bowdoin from 1885 to 1917, said the Brunswick school could offer its students.

"I became the person I dreamed of becoming," said Ollivierre-Scully, who started off expecting to prepare for law school and ended up majoring in history with a minor in Asian studies. "When I arrived at Bowdoin, the world became open to me."

Ollivierre-Scully was one of two student speakers at the college's 204th commencement, where 451 bachelor of arts degrees were awarded. She was joined by Ian F. Yaffe, who majored in Latin American studies and minored in teaching and spoke of being "uncommonly committed to the common good."

Yaffe, of Rockville, Md., noted that the graduating class leaves college at a time of economic distress not seen in 80 years, but he said that could have some positive results.

"Challenging times will demand the most from our generation," he said, adding that he believes his generation will be up to the task.

Bowdoin College also conferred five honorary degrees at the ceremony Saturday. At Bowdoin, the students are the only featured speakers; the honorary degree recipients don't speak at the ceremony but usually take part in other activities during the weekend.

Edward F. Albee, a playwright whose works include "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "A Delicate Balance," was awarded a doctor of humane letters degree; Stephen W. Hannock, a noted landscape painter, was awarded a doctor of fine arts degree; Olufunmilayo Olopade, distinguished service professor of medicine and human genetics at the University of Chicago, was awarded a doctor of science degree; Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, was awarded a doctor of laws degree; and Sheila Watt-Cloutier, a leading voice in international discussions on global climate change, human rights and political and economic policies, was awarded a doctor of humane letters degree.

Staff Writer Edward D. Murphy can be contacted at 791-6465 or at:

emurphy@pressherald.com