About 1,400 graduates received diplomas and Dr. Ban-An Khaw '69 received an honorary doctorate of science from the State University of New York at this year's Commencement May 16.

"The solid education that I received here in Oswego enabled me to compete head-to-head with graduates of renowned educational institutions," Khaw said during his remarks. "Oswego has given you the same opportunity that she had given me 40 years ago."

Khaw is internationally recognized in the field of cardiovascular imaging and new technology development, and collaborates with researchers around the world. The Burma native patented his "cellular Band-Aid," which uses fat globules to patch damage in the wall of the heart muscle cells, in 1998.

He has spent more than 30 years teaching at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Khaw currently serves as the George Behrakis Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University in Boston.

"I came to this campus 42 years ago as a 'fresh-off-the-boat' foreign student," said the 2002 recipient of the Oswego Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus Award. "Today I return, a lot older, possibly a little wiser, but still very enthusiastic about the immense potential for new medical discoveries."

Graduates also heard from one of Time magazine's World's Most Influential People, green entrepreneur Robin Chase.

"You are bringing all of your life experiences and learning forward, and starting your new adult lives. Be true to your best selves and create the world you want to live in," said Chase, CEO of carpooling venture GoLoco.org. "We have to create the world we all can live in -- and moment by moment we are doing so.

"Don't let these moments slip by, each one matters [and] they're all adding up," she said.

In 1999, Chase co-founded Zipcar, a car-sharing service that aims to mitigate the impact of automobiles on society by providing them to drivers on an as-needed basis. SUNY Oswego made its first two Zipcars available in late April as part of its sustainability initiative.

-- Jose Terrero '10

PHOTO CAPTION:
Dr. Ban-An Khaw '69 accepts his honorary doctorate at Oswego's Commencement May 16.



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