Moore's Class of 2019 celebrated Commencement under the traditional white tent in Aviator Park Saturday, May 18.
"Never give up in achieving your goals: go around, confront the barriers, climb over the road blocks ahead and have confidence and security in the knowledge that you are a Moore graduate, and that you can do anything you set your mind to," Moore President Cecelia Fitzgibbon told the graduates.
Commencement speaker Kathy Butterly, a 1986 Moore alumna and 2013 Visionary Woman Award honoree, was given an honorary doctorate in fine arts. She told the graduates to bring attention to the world's injustices by making something beautiful.
"Being an artist is a privilege—use this privilege!" she said. "Trust yourselves. Listen to that inner voice. Don’t worry about fitting in, and don’t hold back."
Valedictorian Colleen Durant offered encouragement to her classmates, who will be taking their next big steps.
"For anyone here with dreams like those, I say, let them keep you up at night, not out of fear, but motivation," Durant said. "Never forget your inspirations, because the next thing you know, you’ll be seeing your name among the stars."
Celeste Cottrell, who was selected to receive the Happy Fernandez Endowed Women's Leadership Prize, also addressed the crowd.
"There are many facets to being a leader," she said. "It’s working with the team to make sure everyone is working together in harmony, not just yelling commands and expecting things to be done. Whether that be something as minor as taking the initiative to support a friend or working on owning your own business - we are all leaders in our own way."
Ciara Garcia received the Marian Locks Endowed Award, which is meant to help Moore women make the transition from undergraduate education to a creative career.
