James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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. O T Tf Taking it all in, graduates and friends look out at the horizon during their last days as students in the valley. Graduation was often a bittersweet time for students who were moving on in life— leaving friends and roommates they had come to know over their four years at the university, photo by {gareth hermann} Looking on from their seats, students listen to the founder of TOMS shoes, Blake Mycoskie. Besides starting his own business, Mycoskie participated in and won the CBS series, The Amazing Race. photo by {gareth hermann} main event, the guest speaker. On stage, founder and chief shoe giver ofTOft 1 s shoes, Blake Mycoskie didn ' t act like the famously successful entrepreneur that everyone had seen in AT T commercials. Casually walking across stage, Mycoskie was a humble man telling his story about starting his shoe company, TOMS, which delivered a pair of shoes to a child in need for even ' pair purchased. His narrative engaged students through his conversational style and comedic side-stories. One ot the most intimate parts of his storv was his description of the company ' s first shoe drop. After a few months ot explosive business and marketing, it was time to fulfill his ' one for one ' promise. Mycoskie said he was often asked it the idea for TOMs changed his life. But it didn ' t. When I had the idea tor TOMs, it was just an idea, kind of a what-if, he said. But, when mv life changed radically, was when I went on that first shoe drop. Speaking to the graduates, President Linwood Rose encourages the students by wishing them success post-graduation. Rose was only the fifth president in the university ' s over 100 year history, photo by {gareth hermann} Features } 2 '

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{ The Bluestone 2011 } the jIH of GIVING TOMS founder speaks at graduation 1 ♦ by sarah lockwood {writer} s the sea of purple-cloaked graduates flagged down triends, took pictures and exchanged hugs, it was clear this was their last time together. Ongoing construction on Bridgeforth Stadium limited the students to their individual college graduation ceremonies, making the Thursday night Convocation ceremonv their last event as the class ot 2010. After the processional, performed bv Bluestone Brass, President Linwood H. Rose sympathized with the graduates, stating that he hoped this convocation event helped make up tor a traditional graduation. Graduate Mackenzie Wiley confirmed that it did. I think it ' s kinda cool that it ' s different this year, she said. It ' s too bad that parents couldn ' t be there to hear the speakers, but I think the way they ' ve organized it this year kind of compensates tor not having the big ceremonv at the stadium. Rose reminded the class of the sports victories and campus growth they had witnessed throughout their college careers. He encouraged them to appreciate the knowledge they gained, the people they came across, the plays and concerts thev heard and the guest speakers they welcomed. He also focused heavily on the community service the students participated in throughout their academic terms. He concluded by recognizing his gratitude for all that thev had done and expressing h igh anticipation to witness the things they would achieve beyond the university. Alter Rose ' s speech, Student Government Association President, Candace Avalos spoke to her classmates saying that she telt lucky to have been in [their] company. Avalos introduced the student address speaker, Allie Weissberg, who compared the class ' college career to putting together a puzzle. We ' ve now become a family and atter tour or maybe five years at JMU, we ' ve all assembled our individual and collective puzzles ot unique college experiences, said Weissberg. Rose followed with recognition of valedictorian, Elisabeth Anne Lehigh, and a brief introduction to the Decorating caps is a way for students to voice their thoughts and opinions during graduation, These decorative caps were scattered throughout the rows of graduates on both Thursday night and Saturday morning. photo by (gareth hermann} 20 { Graduation

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{ The Bluestone 2011 } ♦ Getting ready to walk across the stage, Media Arts Design (SMAD) majors sit with anticipation. SMAD was a department in the College of Arts and Letters, which graduated on the Quad every year. photo by {heidi Campbell) President Rose listens in as Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes, speaks to the graduates. Mycoskie began his business in 2006. For every pair of TOMS shoes that was sold, he donated a pair of shoes to a child in need. photo by {gareth nermann} 22 { Graduation He continued to tell of several events on that first trip that brought tears to his eyes, which in turn, evoked many sniffles from the audience. Mvcoskie stressed two main interrelated lessons that he learned through his experiences: sustainabiliry and giving. He encouraged everyone to adopt sustainable models for giving in their careers, arguing that business models have the ability to give more than fundraiser- and sponsor- dependent charities. Giving, he said does not just feel good. It ' s an amazing business strategy. It ' s an amazing life strategy. These themes made Mycoskie a fitting choice for guest speaker. 1 just think he was incredibly inspiring, said graduate Jess Hopkins. I know a lot ot JMTJ students have those same dreams and aspirations. What I ' ve always loved about I Ml is that everyone is so dedicated to gixing and he really embodied that.