Number of graduates: 953 undergraduates

Interesting fact: University President Roy J. Nirschel drew cheers for singing the theme from The MTV hit The Hill

Keynote speaker: Olympic track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee gave a pithy speech lasting about eight minutes, in which she exhorted the graduates to make time to serve their communities. “Give back,” she said. “Service is too important, serving is so important.”

Honorary degree recipients: Joyner-Kersee (Doctor of Humane Letters); educator and economist Henry Rosovsky (Doctor of Education); Nortek Chairman and CEO Richard L. Bready (Doctor of Business Management); Providence Journal Publisher Howard G. Sutton (Doctor of Humane Letters).Link to online list of graduates: www.rwu.edu/about/administration/registrar/graduation/