Union College News

Jean Ritchie, Virginia Grady Carter to Address Union Graduates

Union College’s class of 2008 will be addressed by two Kentucky women who are responsible for sharing the best of Kentucky with the state and the world.

Jean Ruth Ritchie and Dr. Virginia Grady Carter will each address graduates at Union College’s 129th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m.

Jean Ritchie, a Viper, Ky., native, has been called a national treasure and a pioneer in the American folk revival. Ritchie has recorded more than 35 albums of traditional and original music. She was an original board member of the Newport Folk Festival and won the 1977 Rolling Stone critics award for her album None But One. Her music has been recorded and performed by many artists. Ritchie has also written and edited a number of books, including the acclaimed Singing Family of the Cumberlands. In 2002 she was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts, the country’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

Union graduates and guests will be treated to a performance by Ritchie, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree as part of the ceremony.

Dr. Virginia Grady Carter is the executive director of the Kentucky Humanities Council and a native of Kentucky. In her 20 years at the Council she has brought humanities education and Kentucky history into the forefront through such programs as Kentucky Chautauqua, the Books for New Readers literacy program and a speakers’ bureau. Each year, Kentucky Humanities Council programs reach each of the state’s 120 counties and 400,000 Kentuckians. Under her leadership, the Council has earned the regard of humanities councils across the country and has emerged as one of Kentucky’s most respected organizations.

Carter will deliver the commencement address. She will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

For more information about Union College or for directions to campus, visit www.unionky.edu.

April 30, 2008

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