Gary Loveman
June 1, 2009
“The classes may be
over, but the learning is just beginning,” Dr. Gary Loveman told a portion of
the 1,000 degree candidates at the 2009 Spring Commencement ceremonies of The
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey recently. “The most important
learning ahead of you is self-reflective, not based on books and disciplines.
And self-reflective learning is essential to the sustenance of your most
personal assets – personal integrity and responsibility.”
The words of wisdom took
place following remarks from Stockton President Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr., and
the conferral of an honorary doctoral degree. Dr. Loveman received a
Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa from Dr. Clarence C. Hoover,
III, past Chair of The Richard Stockton College Board of Trustees.
In addition to delivering
the keynote address to the morning ceremony, Loveman, Chairman, CEO and president
of Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., announced a $175,000 gift to the College, the
Harrah’s Entertainment Endowed Scholarship. More than 2,500 people packed
the Stockton Sports Center
for the ceremony recognizing the schools of Graduate and Continuing Studies,
Arts and Humanities, Business and Education.
In the afternoon
festivities, an additional 2,500 looked on as Dr. Joseph Marchetti spoke to
graduates in the schools of General Studies, Natural Sciences and Mathematics,
Health Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Science. Additionally, there was a
special Hooding Ceremony for graduates in Masters and Doctoral programs.
Mac and Kay Seelig,
founders of AC Coin and Slot, received a Distinguished Service Award for their
tireless work on behalf of Stockton and its Annual Scholarship Gala. The
Seeligs’ three sons are Stockton Alumni.
Dr. Loveman’s address to Stockton graduates
highlighted the Harrah’s organization commitment to education. Earlier
this year, Harrah’s Entertainment established the Harrah’s Entertainment
Endowed Scholarship at Stockton
with a generous donation totaling $175,000. The scholarship will reward
and encourage Harrah’s employees who excel in completing their studies at Stockton. The 2009 recipient of the award is Ms. Lisette McFarland, a
resident of Atlantic City
and Harrah’s Slot Supervisor. The College is noted for its programs in
Business, Accounting, Marketing and its dedicated Bachelors program in Tourism
and Hospitality Management which provide the Atlantic City gaming and tourism industry
with leaders and employees.
As a result of Stockton’s
partnership with Harrah’s over the past two years, with Harrah’s as a lead
sponsor for the Stockton College’s Scholarship Benefit Gala, $1.7 million
dollars was raised for student scholarships at Stockton. These scholarships
reward the best and brightest students, and make college more affordable for
families. Harrah’s has led by example in its commitment to higher
education and in encouraging its business partners to do the same to have a
positive impact on the future of young people in this Atlantic City and
southern New Jersey area.
Dr. Loveman is a former
Alfred Sloan Doctoral Dissertation Fellow and associate professor at Harvard University’s
School of Business Administration. He earned
a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His
bachelor’s degree in economics is from Wesleyan University.
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