Commencement
May 14, 2005

 

 

Paul J. Schupf
Thomas College Honorary Degree Citation
As Delivered by George R. Spann, President
Commencement Day, May 14, 2005

 

 

It is hard to say whether the defining characteristic of Paul J. Schupf’s nature is his intelligence, his curiosity or his generosity.   Few individuals are as interested and knowledgeable in the liberal and business arts as is Paul.  And even fewer have supported education in such impressive and varied ways.

Born in Belgium and schooled in the United States and France, Paul’s perspective on the world is informed and unique.  Whether assessing a technology stock, a painting or a sculpture, his eye for quality and his depth of experience have made him successful as both an investor in companies and collector of fine art. 

Paul’s history of helping institutions of higher education is as impressive as his success.  From Cazenovia and Colgate colleges in New York to Colby and Thomas colleges in Maine he has been advisor, recruiter, philanthropist and friend. 

Paul has funded numerous and diverse educational opportunities including a fellowship for study at Oxford; a gallery for the work of Alex Katz; a studio for artists; a scientific symposia series to study vision impairment; a new residence hall designed with student input; a sculpture court for the works of Richard Serra; an endowed professorship in Far Eastern studies; a scientific computing center; and numerous objets d’art from paintings to prints to a classic Gibson guitar. 

Each of these gifts and initiatives has been given thoughtfully, whenever he has identified a need or opportunity.

At the heart of Paul’s giving, of course, is enhancing the learning experience for young people.  From student recruitment to undergraduate retention to opportunities following college, he has consistently offered scholars his personal guidance and attention.  

Paul is a true friend of college Presidents, too--listening, advising and giving strategically in order to help them achieve their aspirations and visions for their respective institutions. 

He is also a brilliant educator.  I had the recent pleasure of hearing Paul address Colby trustees and their guests on the subject of art appreciation.  None of the reading, viewing or art history lectures I had experienced prepared me for Paul’s perspective.  He got it exactly right.  It was a brilliant, accessible and fascinating speech that only a person with his insight could have delivered.

It is a pleasure, Paul, to welcome you to Thomas today, to honor you and to thank you for leaving your mark on business, on education, on research and on many, many students.  Your eagerness to promote knowledge and your actions to ensure access to it will have an impact for years to come.

To you, Paul J. Schupf, I award the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.  The hood with which you are now invested and the degree now placed in your hands are the symbols of the society of scholars and the privileges to which you are entitled.

 

 

Joseph F. Boulos
Thomas College Honorary Degree Citation
As Delivered by George R. Spann, President
Commencement Day, May 14, 2005

 

 

Joseph F. Boulos has deep roots in Maine and a profound appreciation for the relationship between higher education and a successful business environment.

His firm belief is that a strong state economy demands the leadership, the technical skills and the critical thinking that only a college education can provide.

And Joe Boulos knows more than a little about leadership.  A Marine pilot in Vietnam and later a commercial pilot flying in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, he returned to Maine to found the Boulos Companies, a Commercial Brokerage, Property Management and Development Real Estate group of companies.

His business achievements have been recognized by the Maine State Senate, the Maine Business Hall of Fame, the Maine Real Estate Developers Foundation and the Finance Authority of Maine.

As a volunteer Joe serves as chair of the board at his alma mater, Colby College, chairs the Maine Compact for Higher Education, sits on the Cheverus High School board and has served numerous charitable organizations in his community. 

In addition to being a business and civic leader, Joe is known as a loyal friend—someone who will stick by you thorough thick and thin; a person without pretension whose core values drive his actions whether dealing with business or personal issues.

There is no better example of this commitment than the Boulos Family Scholarship established by Joe and his wife, Sheri, to recognize and thank the men and women of Maine who served in the armed forces in Iraq or Afghanistan during the post September 11 era.  Joe and Sheri recognize the hardships our soldiers endured in these conflicts and are proud of their service to our country.  They believe that each returning Maine veteran deserves the opportunity to secure a promising future through a college education, and the Boulos family is providing the scholarship aid to help make it possible. 

Joe and Sheri announced their scholarship at a Christmas party they hosted for veterans and their families.  The first day that the Boulos Family Scholarship was available, seven Thomas students applied and were accepted as scholarship recipients.   

The people whose lives have been impacted by Joe, including these students, veterans throughout Maine, their extended families and friends, business associates, and the volunteers with whom he serves on boards of trustees all share a common experience: they are witness to the Boulos optimism—a confidence in the future and belief in the basic goodness of people.

Thank you, Joe, for sharing your beliefs and principles with us all.  You have done so quietly and humbly, and you have done so deliberately, leading by example and by action.

Thomas’s mission is to prepare its students for success in their personal and professional lives and for leadership and service in their communities.  The example you set for us as a businessman and a citizen of Maine could not be more appropriate. 

To you, Joseph F. Boulos, I award the degree of Doctor of Science in Business Administration, honoris causa.  The hood with which you are now invested and the degree now placed in your hands are the symbols of the society of scholars and the privileges to which you are entitled.