ATHENS, Ohio -- "I want you to remember," said commencement speaker William Schlotterer, D.O. ('80), to the College of Osteopathic Medicine's graduating Class of 2002, "that the future does not belong to those who are content with today, to those who are apathetic towards common problems and their fellow man alike or to those timid and fearful in the face of new ideas and old problems."

Schlotterer delivered the address at OU-COM's 23rd graduation exercises June 1, during which the 94 members of the Class of 2002 became doctors of osteopathic medicine. The ceremony took place in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Ohio University's Athens campus.

Ohio University President Robert Glidden, Ph.D., presided over the commencement. This was the college's third graduation held separately from Ohio University's graduate commencement, which took place the following week. Also participating in the graduation were Peter Bell, D.O., president-elect of the Ohio Osteopathic Association; Jay Shubrook, D.O. ('96), president of OU-COM's Society of Alumni and Friends; Jack Brose, D.O., dean of OU-COM; William Burke, D.O. ('88), chairman of the university's Alumni Association Board of Directors; and Gary Schumacher, Ph.D., Ohio University interim provost.

"Since its creation in 1975, Ohio University College of Osteopathic medicine has become a national model for producing primary care physicians," Glidden told the graduating class. The class, made up of 48 men and 46 women, includes 28 from ethnic and racial minorities, 12 from Southeastern Ohio and three legacies -- the sons or daughters of osteopathic physicians.

"Each and every member of this class can be proud of his or her own hard work and dedication in continuing this important legacy," said Glidden.

The class representative, Chris Marazon, D.O. ('02), addressed the audience next. During his address, Marazon paraphrased William Anderson, D.O., former American Osteopathic Association president, who spoke to the Class of 2002 during its first year of medical school. "A medical degree does two things for you," he said. "First it does not guarantee you a job; in fact, it effectively makes you overqualified to work a McDonalds."

More importantly, continued Marazon, it allows you to "pursue even more education. We are now going to the next dream in our lives: to become trained in specialty fields of our choice." Marazon is the son of former OU-COM Interim Dean Daniel Marazon, D.O.

During the ceremony, awards were given to outstanding graduates: Christopher Marazon, D.O. ('02), Osteopathic Heritage Award; Paige Gutheil, D.O. ('02), Family Practice Award; Michelle Binekey-Riley, D.O. ('02), Specialty Medicine Award; Darren Adams, D.O. ('02), Obstetrics and Gynecology Award; Marisa Larimer, D.O. ('02), Pediatrics Award; Laura Shoemaker, D.O. ('02), the Social Medicine-Medical Humanities Award and the Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology Award-Ohio Department of Aging; Michael Neeki, D.O. ('02), Biomedical Science Award; Eric Schenk, D.O. ('02), Dean's Award; and Norma Perez, D.O. ('02), the Academic Medicine Award and the Student D.O. of the Year Award. Each year the college presents the Donna Jane Moritsugu Award to a spouse who has been an especially great support to his or her spouse during medical school. This year the award went to Lisa Abate, D.O. ('99), wife of George Abate, D.O. ('02).

The Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education awards went to outstanding students at the four CORE sites across the state. At the Northwest CORE, awards went to Michelle Binekey-Riley, D.O. ('02), St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center; Catherine Kunzler, D.O. ('02); Firelands Regional Medical Center; David Tolentino, D.O. ('02), St. John West Shore Hospital.

Northeast CORE Awards went to Heather Columber, D.O. ('02), South Pointe Hospital; Rochelle Pondt, D.O. ('02), Doctors Hospital of Stark County; Dustin Blakeslee, D.O. ('02), Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital; and Dominic Conti, D.O. ('02), St. Joseph Health Center.

Southeast CORE Awards went to Mark DeWalt, D.O. ('02), Doctors Hospital and Eric Schenk, D.O. ('02), O'Bleness Memorial Hospital.

Southwest CORE Awards went to Douglas Harley, D.O. ('02), Grandview Hospital and Medical Center and Jason Cheatham, D.O. ('02), Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Immediately preceding the graduation, six members of the Class of 2002 were commissioned as officers in the U.S. military. The six commissioned were Gregory Applegate, D.O. ('02), Army; Debra Carson, D.O. ('02), Air Force; Joseph Fitzpatrick, D.O. ('02), Navy; Warren Hsu, D.O. ('02), Navy; Christopher Marazon, D.O. ('02), Navy; and Larry Robinson, D.O. ('02), Army.

Glidden led the graduates in applause for their family and friends who supported them as well as for the faculty and staff who taught and mentored them over the past four years. "Each of you had support from someone special in achieving your goal ... believing in and encouraging you when you may have had some doubts."

Glidden singled out several students for recognition, including George Abate, D.O. ('02), who met his wife Lisa, also an OU-COM graduate, while attending Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. George was a reporter and photographer in Southeastern Ohio for several years. Tiffani Singleton, D.O. ('02), who in addition to her medical degree, received an interdisciplinary master's degree in mechanical engineering and business administration. Tom Smith, D.O. ('02), was a standout OU athlete who won the 1996 Mid-American Conference championship in discus and still holds the school discus record. Tom's sister is Katie Smith of the Columbus Quest, arguably Ohio's best female basketball player ever.

ommencement speaker Schlotterer was a member of the college's first graduating class of 21 in 1980. Soon after establishing a family practice in Ohio, Schlotterer found himself, as other physicians nationwide during the mid 1980s, facing the growing AIDS crisis. He became an early and strong advocate of compassionate, enlightened and comprehensive treatment for AIDS patients. In June 1990, Schlotterer appeared on "ABC News with Peter Jennings" to discuss AIDS.

Facing the future with boldness and conviction, especially in the shadow of the national tragedy of Sept. 11, said Schlotterer, was for those ready to fill the future with "passion, reason and courage and a personal commitment to the ideas and great enterprises of American society."

"Let the word go forth," he said, "from this time and this place to friend and foe alike, that the torch is being passed to a new generation of Americans coming of age in this millennium, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and with an unwillingness to witness or permit a slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed and to which we are committed to today, at home and around the world."

He also admonished the members of the graduating class to be appreciative of the support and help, financial and moral, given to them by parents, grandparents, professors and mentors. All of them, he said, had helped them achieve their goals of becoming physicians.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you have had the opportunity to experience the finest medical education available. I encourage you all to get out there and do your best.

"In closing, ladies and gentlemen," he said, "this is the real thing. This is what you have been training for. Make us proud."

After the conferral of degrees by Glidden, graduates were led in the recitation of the Osteopathic Oath by Brose, after which the ceremony was adjourned.