Bree Adams
Arts/ent/ops editor
Linfield alumnus and trustee emeritus Rodney R. Romney will speak on “Finding a Sense of Purpose” at the 2009 baccalaureate services, and Oregon wine industry pioneer David Lett will be presented with a posthumous honorary doctorate degree at this year’s commencement services.
Lett, hailed “Papa Pinot,” will be honored for his diligent work in establishing Oregon’s wine industry. His son, Jason Lett, will accept the degree on his father’s behalf and deliver the commencement address, titled “Castles in the Air.”
After a career change, David Lett received a bachelor’s degree in viticulture from the University of California at Davis. He then spent several months doing related research in Europe, especially concentrating on pinot noir. In 1966, he established The Eyrie Vineyards in Dundee, Ore. In 1980, his pinot noir made a stir at wine tastings in France, beginning Oregon’s wine-making reputation.
Lett helped found the Oregon Winegrowers Association, the Oregon Wine Advisory Board and the International Pinot Noir Celebration.
“Baccalaureate is intended to be a spiritual exclamation point to our academic pilgrimage, one that gives thanks for the awareness and knowledge we have gained and anticipates, through hope and prayer, the challenges yet to come,” Linfield Chaplain David Massey said in a press release.
Massey will preside over the service and will be accompanied by presentations by the Baccalaureate Brass Band and the Linfield Concert Choir. Several graduating seniors will also give readings and prayers.
Romney graduated from Linfield in 1954 and has since received a Doctor of Ministry degree from the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, Calif.
He was presented an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Linfield in 1987 and has served on the Board of Trustees for 18 years.
Linfield President Thomas Hellie will preside over the commencement ceremony, when 627 students will receive degrees: 375 from the McMinnville campus, 143 from the Portland campus and 109 from the Adult Degree Program.
Baccalaureate services will be held at 6 p.m. May 30 in the Ted Wilson Gymnasium, and commencement services will be held at 10 a.m. May 31 in the Oak Grove.
The Nursing Closing Convocation Ceremony from the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing will be held at 2:30 p.m. May 31 in the Ted Wilson Gymnasium.