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

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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.

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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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Students listen to the guest speaker the Thursday before graduation. Due to Bridgeforth Stadium being under construction, the class of 2010 could not have a large graduation ceremony like graduates had in years past, photo by (gareth nermann} Wiley also appreciated his message about giving. She felt Mycoskie ' s main point to give throughout your lire will apply to us soon since we will eventually, finally be in the position to give. To each graduate, Mycoskie ' s message meant something different. I just liked his message about how vou can start with an idea — no matter how absurd it sounds — and you can make it happen, said graduate Julie Watson. The general consensus through the crowd of graduates leaving the convocation center was clear. That was the best speech ever and He ' s so genuine could be heard through the giggles about Mycoskie ' s decidedly favorable looks. From there, many of the seniors made their way up to ISAT to receive T-shirts and attend a candlelit ceremony to further prepare themselves for graduating on Saturday, May 8, and stepping into the world beyond the university. Strong winds blew hard against the graduation gowns and tassels as the 2010 graduating class took their seats. Many thought of their future, I while some thought of their past four years at the university. However, some remembered a promise made to them their freshmen year. I attended the Pep Rally at 1787 Orientation my freshman year and was told that it was the last time we would be with our class until graduation, said graduate Paige Abe. When I found out that we weren ' t going to be together on graduation day with our entire class and parents, ■ I felt sad that that promise was not fulfilled. Due to the construction on Bridgeforth Stadium, the typical graduation ceremony where all of the graduates gathered together with family and friends was cancelled. Instead, the class of 2010 had a special ceremony the Thursday before graduation, where relatives were not allowed to attend. Along with those relatives, were some graduates who couldn ' t fit the ceremony into their schedule. I wasn ' t able to make it to the speaker the Thursday before graduation and I feel like I missed out, said graduate Glenda Cosby. Graduation day didn ' t feel as important as it could have. Graduation day consisted of six separate graduation ceremonies that began at 9 a.m. and were spread out across campus.} Features } 23