“No graduating class gets to choose the world they graduate into. Every class has its own unique challenges,” said Vice President Joe Biden in his speech to the graduates. “Every class enters a history that up to that point has been written for them. And your generation is no different. But what is different about your generation is the chance that each of you has to take history into your own hands and write it larger.”

Professor of Biology Pete Weigl (right) congratulates graduates as they recess after the Commencement ceremony. Weigl retired this year after 41 years on the biology faculty.

Chris Barclay set numerous school football records and was the ACC Player of the Year in 2005. He left school but came back to finish his education and graduated today with a Bachelor of Science degree.

The graduates, the families, the speakers, the fanfare, and yes, even the mud. Enjoy the Commencement 2009 photo galleries on Window on Wake Forest.

Retiring faculty from the Reynolda Campus are:

Robert C. Beck, professor of psychology; Stephen Ewing, professor of business; J. Edwin Hendricks, professor of history; Fredric T. Howard, professor of mathematics; Donald P. Robin, J. Tylee Wilson Professor of Business Ethics; David F. Shores, professor of law; and Peter D. Weigl, professor of biology.

Faculty retiring from the Bowman Gray Campus:

Richard H. Dean, professor of surgical sciences, general surgery; John W. Hammon, professor of surgical sciences, cardiothoracic surgery; Susan M. Hutson, professor of biochemistry; Frederick M. Kremkau, professor of medical ultrasound; Ronald J. Prineas, professor of public health sciences, epidemiology; Walter M. Roufail, profesor of internal medicine, gastroenterology; Richard W. St. Clair, professor of pathology, lipid sciences; Jack W. Strandhoy, professor of physiology and pharmacology; and Philos Reidar Wallin, professor of internal medicine, rheumatology and clinical immunology.

Alumnus and trustee Al Hunt (’65) presents a posthumous honorary degree to journalist Tim Russert, who, before  he died last June, had accepted an invitation to be this year’s Commencement speaker. The Doctor of Humane Letters degree is accepted by Russert’s widow, writer Maureen Orth.

Provost Jill Tiefenthaler reads a citation as Vice President Biden receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. “Known for his common touch and as a man of action, he has distinguished himself for his ability to find a common ground among political positions,” says the citation.