The Voice Fall 2011 Highlights
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Applauded and challenged, HGSAS grads celebrate commencement
Accolades and elation filled the halls of Hazelden's Cork Center August 19, 2011 as family and friends gathered for the twelfth annual commencement of the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies.
Eighty students were awarded the master of arts degree in addiction counseling. With signature candor, commencement speaker David Carr, journalist, author and columnist with The New York Times, shared harrowing and heartening moments from his personal story of addiction and recovery, chronicled in his memoir, The Night of the Gun. Carr expressed deep respect for the
graduates and their chosen profession.
"I really believe in treatment, enough that I went five times and finally got it. People like you save people like me." Carr credited family members, friends, and counselors who never gave up on him--for reminding him of whom he was and who he was supposed to be.
"Hope is oxygen to a dying man."
Equipped with a "toolbox" of science and empathy, Carr told the graduates they have everything it takes to systematically, brick by brick, take down the walls of addiction and help people reclaim their lives.
Calling the graduates "the Navy Seals in the war of addiction," Carr capped his commencement send-off with words of encouragement and gratitude.
"Go forth and make sure people like me have an opportunity to experience what a wonderful world this is."commencement
The graduating class hailed from the United States, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Canada, the Netherlands and China. Flags of the countries were displayed at the ceremony.
Fellow graduate Erle de Lanooi of the Netherlands, who holds a bachelor of arts degree in biological behavior and Spanish literature from the University of Pennsylvania and a master of business administration degree from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, delivered the class representative address. Graduate Becca Gee received the award for excellence in writing.
The Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies educates future leaders in addiction counseling to improve treatment and recovery from alcohol and drug dependence.
Published in the Voice, Fall 2011
