College
says farewell to Class of 2023
CONWAY, Ark. (May 13, 2023) — The Hendrix College Class of
2023 celebrated this morning with family, friends, faculty, and staff at the 139th Commencement
ceremony, held on campus in Young-Wise Memorial Stadium.
Hendrix awarded nearly 200 Bachelor
of Arts degrees and 11 Master of Arts degrees in accounting.
Read the full list of 2023 Hendrix graduates; watch the archived video of the ceremony.
Before the conferral of degrees for this year’s graduates, Jo
Ann Biggs ’80, chair of the Hendrix College Board of Trustees, noted that this
ceremony was the final commencement for Ellis Arnold ’79 as President and for
Dr. Terri Bonebright as Provost. Both leaders are retiring from their positions
at the end of the academic year. This spring, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously
to honor Arnold with the title President
Emeritus following his retirement. Earlier this month, the Board of
Trustees recognized Dr. Bonebright for her service as Executive Vice President
for Academic Affairs and Provost of the College. Following a sabbatical, Dr.
Bonebright will teach in the Department of Psychology at Hendrix.
“Today is a bittersweet celebration for
graduates and their families, for our community, and for me,” said President
Arnold. “Graduates, the College could not be more proud
of you and all that you have achieved. Your legacy on this campus, and the many
ways that you have helped to make Hendrix a stronger and better institution,
will continue to inspire us long after today.”
The College presented an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
degree to Bracken
Darrell ’85, who addressed the Class of 2023 after receiving
his honorary degree. Darrell, who majored in English at Hendrix, is President
and CEO of Logitech.
Under his leadership, Logitech has reinvented
itself into an award-winning design company, and a top performer on the Swiss
exchange and NASDAQ. Logitech has received many awards during his tenure,
including over 200 design awards and many sustainability awards. Under Darrell’s
leadership, the company’s valuation has increased from $1
billion to $10 billion. He has been named CEO
of the Year in Switzerland three of the last four years. Last spring, he
received the Edison Award, which honors some of the most innovative business
leaders in the world and is among the most prestigious accolades honoring
excellence in new product and service development, marketing, design, and
innovation.
“Bracken Darrell has continued to champion
the education he received at Hendrix,” said President Arnold. “A staunch proponent
of the value of liberal arts in business, especially in conjunction with
innovating product experiences for consumers, Bracken frequently references his
liberal arts background in public appearances and national interviews.”
Addressing the Class of 2023 as “graduating
students,” Darrell said, “You never stop learning. You will always be
students.”
While noting the importance of seeking advice
and studying data, “intuition is magical,” he said, before sharing some mistakes,
missed opportunities, and outright failures he made when he failed to trust his
intuition.
“None of my mistakes bother me. I am thankful,”
he said, before closing his remarks to the Class of 2023 by encouraging them to
“live your life with big dreams and small acts of kindness.”
“Have goals that set a broad direction and
unlock your potential … Go for it. Every day.”
About Hendrix College
A
private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently
earns recognition as one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions and
is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change
the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and rigor,
innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous college
guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been affiliated with
the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visitwww.hendrix.edu.