Dr. Virginia Grady Carter receives an honorary doctorate from Dr. Tom McFarland, left, and Chairman Paul Isaacs, right, during Union’s 2008 commencement.

Union College’s 115th graduating class celebrated commencement Saturday along with special guests Jean Ruth Ritchie and Dr. Virginia Grady Carter.

The 380 graduates were treated to two commencement addresses. Ritchie, a Viper, Ky., native who has earned national and international acclaim as a pioneer of the American Folk Revival, chose to deliver her remarks in song. She sang “Shady Grove” while playing the lap dulcimer, an instrument she is credited with preserving, and performed “Now is the Cool of the Day” a capella. Ritchie received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree as part of the ceremony. Best-selling Appalachian author, Silas House, introduced her to the audience.

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President Ed de Rosset presents Bob Duricko with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

Union College recognized former Bulldog baseball players recently as part of Baseball Alumni Day. Bob Duricko was chosen as the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Athletic Service Award.

The award is presented annually to an alumnus, faculty member, coach, trainer, friend or other individual who supports Union and its athletic programs through outstanding service and commitment, exceptional leadership, and by serving as a role model in the community and in his or her profession.

Duricko’s service to Union athletics began when he was a student in 1969 and played tennis for three years. Since that time he has coached the men’s tennis team, driven cheerleaders to away games when his wife was the squad’s sponsor, and served as a public address announcer under coaches Dave Schmotzere, Charlie Fenske and Matt Ballard.

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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.

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Union student Chevelle Jones applies sealant to a deck during the 11th annual Repair Affair.

An early morning bout with rain didn’t dampen the spirits of over 100 volunteers who scattered throughout Knox County Saturday armed with hammers and a mission. After meeting for breakfast on the Union College campus, volunteer teams spent the day serving low-income or disabled residents whose homes were in need of repair.

According to Elise Ratterman, a student coordinator of this year’s Repair Affair, the event went smoothly and was organized so as to make it easy for volunteers to participate. “In the weeks leading up to the event we tried to plan everything and cover every base,” she said. “I’m very pleased with the turnout of community members, faculty and staff, and students and athletic teams.”

Volunteers did everything from electrical wiring to building stairs, painting, weatherproofing, installing locks on doors and leveling floors. They worked in teams of five to 10 volunteers, with each team assigned to one of the11 homes chosen for repair during this year’s event.

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