May 29, 2000
RELEASE ON RECEIPT

Thirty Eight Ohio Residents to Receive Degrees from Oberlin College

OBERLIN, OHIO--Thirty-eight Ohio residents, including five from Lorain County, are among the 670 students to graduate from Oberlin College at its 167th commencement ceremonies, held today.

Oscar Arias Sánchez, former president of Costa Rica and winner of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize, delivered the commencement address. He was awarded the honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

In addition to Arias, others receiving honorary degrees were:

• Louis Lane, musician and conductor, who received an honorary Doctor of Music degree;
• Bruce Sherman McEwen '59, neuroscientist and professor at the Rockefeller University, who received an honorary Doctor of Science degree;
• Eleanor Gould Packard, '38, associate editor of The New Yorker, who received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree; and
• Washington, D.C. attorney and Oberlin College trustee William R. Perlik '48, who served as chair of Oberlin's board from 1993 to 1999. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Dr. Roy Church, president of Lorain County Community College, received the College's annual award for distinguished service to the community. He was recognized for his efforts to increase access to higher education.

Danforth Professor of History Geoffrey Blodgett '53 received the College's Alumni Medal.

Media Contact: Marci Janas 1/9/00 #101 mj