Soondarie J. Barker '99 received the award for her commitment to her family.

President-Elect of the Harvard Alumni Association T'ing C. Pei '65 and Radcliffe College Alumnae Association (RCAA) President Jane E. Tewksbury '74 welcomed the class into the body of Harvard alumni.

Both emphasized the importance of joining the alumni associations after graduation.

Tewksbury said female graduates should not worry about the future of Radcliffe, but she noted that last year at this time, she had predicted that degrees with Radcliffe signatures would become rare.

"I said, 'They might be worth a lot of money one day," she said. "How prophetic of me."

Even with the merger turning Radcliffe into an Institute of Advanced Study, Tewksbury said the RCAA will remain powerful.

"Radcliffe will become stronger and more influential than it has ever been," she said.

The ceremony ended with the singing of the 1999 Class Ode, sung by members of the Harvard Krokodiloes to the tune of "Fair Harvard," with lyrics by George W. Hicks '99.

As audience members filed out of the Yard, Joanna G. Hootnick '02, sister of Danielle A. Hootnick '99, said, "as a freshman, it's good to know these students love it so much."

Arnita L. Thurston, mother of Crimson editor Baratunde Thurston, said the student speeches were the most moving part of the day.

"Sharmil made me cry. Molly made me know crying is okay," Arnita Thurston said. "Noam reminded me, don't take any of this crap too seriously."