About 300 graduating seniors received their bachelor's degrees on Sunday, June 4, during Knox College's 172nd Commencement exercises on the South Lawn of Old Main.

Eva Longoria, an award-winning actress, producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, delivered the Commencement address.

Honorary degrees were awarded to Longoria; Wes Jackson, co-founder and president emeritus of The Land Institute and a leader in the international sustainable agricultural movement; and Fay Hartog Levin, distinguished fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and former U.S ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

In addition, President Teresa Amott paid a special tribute to one of the audience members at Commencement: Rosemary Swise '42, who was observing the 75th anniversary of her graduation from Knox.

After Longoria delivered her remarks, the graduating seniors and the rest of the audience heard from senior class speaker Steffi Antony, an anthropology and sociology major from Mount Prospect, Illinois.

Also as part of Commencement, the Faculty Achievement Award was presented to Knox Physics Professor Charles Schulz. Last year's Faculty Achievement Award recipient, Diana Beck, who is George Appleton Distinguished Service Professor of Educational Studies, made the presentation to Schulz. A 1972 Knox graduate, Schulz has been a member of the faculty since 1981.

• Honorary Degree Presentation to Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin
• Honorary Degree Presentation to Wes Jackson
• Honorary Degree Presentation to Eva Longoria
• Faculty Achievement Award to Chuck Schulz
• Senior Class Speaker Steffi Antony

In her Commencement Address, Longoria noted that Knox "has such an incredible legacy of moral leadership—a place that was far ahead of its time in opening doors of opportunity to women and people of color."

"I know you will draw on that legacy throughout your lives," she told the graduating seniors.

Longoria spoke to the audience about some of the details of her life, such as growing up in Texas and being proud of both her Mexican and American roots. She said she learned about compassion as a child from her sister, Liza, who has special needs. One day, someone at school stole Liza's jacket, and when Eva asked who would do such a thing, Liza replied: "Somebody who must have been cold."

"I hope you will always choose to see the best in others, too," she told the Class of 2017.

"I hope that along the way of your chosen paths, you will continue to find ways to show kindness, and serve others. Places like Knox have done so much to expand access to students from all backgrounds and walks of life—but we know that as a country, we have much more work to do," she added. "It's going to be your job to help the next generation learn from your path and experiences. And it will be your job to help create a society of more equal opportunity for others."

In speaking to her classmates, Antony focused on the concept of change and said that she and the rest of the class found growth, acceptance, and "our personal adventures" while at Knox.

"Change begins with acceptance, and that is what Knox taught us," Antony said. "Change doesn't arrive on its own. Change is what we bring."

She concluded by congratulating her classmates and adding: "Change does not stop here."

(Photos below: The 2017 graduates; a decorative mortarboard; Commencement speaker Eva Longoria; Physics Professor Charles Schulz receives the Faculty Achievement Award.)

A total of 90 seniors graduated with Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude). Thirteen members of the Class of 2017 earned College Honors for advanced independent study projects that were evaluated by a select committee and produced a major piece of research or creative work.

Additional student awards were announced during Commencement.

Emily Malec and Sarah Pawlicki were announced as co-winners of the John C. Weigel Prize. It is awarded to the member of the graduating class with the highest scholastic achievement. Malec is an Asian Studies major with a minor in English literature and a self-designed minor in linguistics. Pawlicki is a history major with a minor in psychology.

Dakota Stipp, a computer science major with minors in music and theatre design & technology, received the E. Inman Fox Prize. That prize is awarded to a senior whose scholarly achievement and pursuit of a truly liberal education are exceptional among peers.

• Watch the full Commencement ceremony
• View photos from Commencement and Senior Week at Knox College's Flickr.