Oglethorpe University - Yamacraw Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

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Inside the gymnasium the buzz of excited voices rose in harmony with the tuning of the string quartet, while gold -roped chairs awaited the graduation candidates. The attitudes of all present were varied. Can it be over already? mourned one senior. Thank God it finally arrived! thought another in relief. Each individual possessed their own story of trials, failures, and SUCCESS and ACCOMPLISHMENT Thus began the U4th Conr mencement at Oglethorpe. D Manning Patillos ' s welcome pre- ceded the invocation and scriptur- ereading by Dr. Lavon Tally, which was followed with a musical inter- lude by the Atlanta Chamber Play- ers. The excitement increased with the bestowing of honors and awards. Ronda C. Davis received the Sally Hull Weltner Award for Scholarship and John Thomas Payne matched their achievement by receiving the Faculty award for Scholarship. The prized James Ed- ward Oglethorpe awards presented to the man and woman who best epitomized the Oglethorpe educa- tion — were deservingly bestowed upon Diane Marie Dubay and Lew- is Casey Chosewood. A third award newly instituted at the com- mencement of 1986 was the Phi Beta Kappa Award. Leah Guyn- elle Brown was chosen as the graduating senior who best exem- plified the criteria of Phi Beta Kappa with a traditional major and superior scholastic achievement. Lastly, the President ' s leadership Prize was presented to Raymond Harris Lucas for exhibiting a high caliber of leadership in a number of campus organizations. The president of the class of 1986, Douglas Scott Schmitt, added levity to the formal occassion. He announced the senior gift— barbe- que grills for both men and wom- en ' s dorms, then jokingly referred to the newly renovated Schmidt Hall as being named in his honor. Actually, the men ' s dormitory was renamed in honor of Stephen John Schmidt, an alumnus of 1940. Mr, Schmidt and the commencement speaker, John Brooks Fuqua, were awarded honorary degrees called Doctor of Laws. As a successful leader of industry and politics, Mr. Fuqua focused his address on the basics of leader- ship. He stressed setting goals, act- ing like a leader, and striving to be uncommon in a common world. Entrepeneur and sportsman, Ted Turner, was present for his daugh- ter Laura ' s graduation, and served as a real-life embodiment of Mr. Fuqua ' s remarks. At last the conferring of degrees arrived. One hundred twenty-four Oglethorpians received Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Master of Arts degrees. Honor graduates received deserved ap- plause, while the always forbidden but inevitable cat calls and clapping conveyed the pride of others ' par- ents and friends. And a benediction by Dr. Ken Nishimura brought the ceremony to its conclusion. f4 f% MuUco

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On a Saturday morning in Traer, the beginnings of a rum- ble could just be heard. From its space in front of the third floor lounge, the large stereo system let out a crackling, monotonous hum. Then, within seconds. The Bangles ' Manic Monday was heard riveting through the quad. Gradually, girls were begin- ning to emerge from their rooms. Others stood in door- ways peeping out. Still others were already laying out in the sun. The day began with just the girls, competing against each other in fun and games. Before long, Kathleen Ganey, former housing director, announced the beginning of the contests. Residents of all three floors of Traer Hall and the residents of Goodman Hall competed against one another. At the out- set, the third floor girls emerged as first in the scavenger hunt. There were water ballooning contests, too. In the end, the sec- ond floor girls were the overall winners, with the third floor coming in a close second, the first floor was third, and Good- man was fourth. By one o ' clock the quad was filled with girls running around in jams with Hawaiian leis around their necks. And very soon a fter, the crowds of men began to pour in. By now, that beginning rumble had built into a roar, nearly drowning out the music. In this second phase of the Beach Bash, refreshments were brought out. They consisted of a tub of shrimp, a keg of beer, and a table full of sliced pineap- ples. Students milled around downstairs, where virgin Daiqui- ris were being mixed in the kitchen. Another round of games en- sued and this time, both sexes participated. These were spoon races and tug-o-wars. Teresa Barnhill, who participated in several of the races, smilingly commented on the zany antics of her partner, Bruce Grain: He kept cheating ... I mean in the box races, he was running and he actually pulled the box all the way up and peeked out! Soon, the afternoon waned into evening and students sat down to eat grilled hamburgers and hot dogs while listening to the sounds of the band. Not Only But Also, and their, as Heidi Dawson put it. Garfunk- ley music. At the close of the evening students trickled selectively from the quad. A low hum was all that was left of the roar, as the echo of human voices quiet- ed to a whisper. This was really great, said Jennifer Gamblin. The Thrill of Victory. Jackie Woodard, Jervette Nunn, Andy Geeter, Robert Stro- zier, and Mike Clance congratulate one an- other after winning the tug-o-war. They were the champions for the Goodman team. ac da f3

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The Gratification of Graduation. Chums. Peg ONeil, Kay Pitts and Bonnie Patterson smile in anticipation of receiving their long- awaited and hard-earned diplomas. Leading the Way ... to the Dorough Field- house, Dr. David Mosher and Dr. R.J. Fusillo speak about the upcoming graduation ceremo- ny, dressed in their graduation gowns from the universities where they each received their PHDs, Georgia Tech and The Shakespeare In- stitute, respectively. ftadd Uca f5