SUMMER 2013
Commencement 2013:
Speaker David Henry Hwang Encourages Students to Remake Theatre It was a morning of smiles, sentiment and, even, sighs of relief for the Class of 2013 as the culmination of their studies had finally come to fruition at the School of Dramatic Arts Commencement. “This is a wonderful day. Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of you, our amazing students, and we honor your success,” Dean Madeline Puzo said. “I have every confidence, in watching you grow over the last several years, that you’re ready to face that future and all the challenges and successes it’s going to bring to you.” As the first group to graduate under the School’s new name, more than 120 students made their way across the stage in a packed Bing Theatre on May 17. Following the opening of the ceremony, Bachelor of Arts student speaker Jordan Merimee took the podium to share a few humorous haiku and witticisms to commemorate his time at the School. All joking aside, he then got to the core of his speech and retold a story about how a peer’s solo performance saved another USC student from taking her own life. “Some people are called to keep the world living, but we know that we’re called to give it a reason to live. The plays we direct, the shows we light, the dances we share, and the stories we tell remind the world that the heartbeat is more than a random pump of blood,” he said. While at USC, Merimee performed in 11 productions, and was president of the Sigma Alpha Lambda honors society, member of Phi Beta Kappa and an officer in the Theatre Students Association. With a similar passion as Merimee, Bachelor of Fine Arts student speaker Ashley L Koenig encouraged her fellow artists to embrace the newfound freedom they had from that day forward. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Above: Students and faculty celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2013 on May 17. Bottom left photo: Student representative Ashley L Koenig delivers her speech in the Bing Theatre.
Commencement speaker David Henry Hwang