Commencement: Webb Institute in Glen Cove

The school: Webb Institute, the naval architecture and marine engineering college in Glen Cove

Number of graduates: 22

Commencement speaker: John Angelicoussis, chairman and chief executive of Angelicoussis Shipping Group Limited, based in Athens, one of the largest shipping companies in the world. It was founded by his father, Antonis, in 1947. "When my father died in '89, we were a small ship owner. Every Greek small ship owner dreams to be the biggest in Greece one day. Every Greek seaman dreams to become a ship owner. Neither dream is impossible. It takes commitment and hard work, definitely intelligence and good luck. . . . The shipping industry as a whole is the biggest beneficiary of globalization. . . . Remember, 90 percent of world trade is seaborne. . . . Young men and women, you are not going to be unemployed in a growing industry. . . . The United States of America and Europe together are no longer the center of the world. During this century, the center has shifted to the East. That area contains over 50 percent of the world's population. . . . Be adventurous and move East if need be."

Student speakers: Peter Lee and Will Markuske did a team presentation.

Lee: "Four years at Webb Institute is a very rigorous experience which can be very stressful, from time to time. Think back to all the sunrises that we encountered after finishing ship design projects, marine engineering projects and all sorts of other works that we decided to erase from our memory for our mental sake. Even all through that hardship, our class kept its composure. And every member of our class was determined to learn and fully absorb the Webb experience."

Markuske: "We haven't made it to this point without the guidance of our professors here at Webb and the never-ending support of our parents. We here at Webb have a unique situation in which every professor is willing to meet with any student at almost any time to create the best educational environment. . . . And to the parents, thank you so much for making such interesting sons and daughters for Peter and I to spend our four years with."