HANOVER — Nearly 1,800 students received diplomas at Dartmouth College's commencement ceremony on Sunday morning, and speaker Wendy Kopp urged them to go into their futures with the word “yes” on their minds.

Kopp, the founder of Teach for America, an organization that enlists top college graduates to help educate kids in some of the nation's most underprivileged school districts, told the class of 2012 that they are entering a world that is “slanted towards no.”

Kopp spoke of the resistance she faced from people in both government and the private sector when she was a young graduate herself trying to launch the idea of bringing highly educated teachers to impoverished communities.

“The naysayers have the power…there are a lot of haters out there,” said Kopp. “But the people who make a difference, the people who shape history are not haters.”

Kopp said that Teach for America was able to get off the ground because of the people who supported the idea along the way, and today, Kopp's brainchild has reached students across the United States and has branched off to create an international success. Thirty-seven Dartmouth graduates will join the program this year, said Kopp, and more than 120 have signed on with the organization since 2005.

“You don't have to create the next Google to be a builder and make an impact,” said Kopp, but she warned that today's young graduates have to work hard to support innovation and ideas.

“Before we shoot down an idea, we should pause and ask ourselves, 'is there something I can do to help make this work?'” Kopp said. “You were made to be builders. You can slant the world toward yes.”

While Dartmouth's commencement was a chance for students to say goodbye to their alma mater, it was also a chance for the college community to say goodbye to its leader.

Dr. Jim Yong Kim, president of the college since 2009, is leaving his post and both he and his wife, Youn Sook Lim, were presented with honorary degrees for both their work at the college and their work in international health initiatives and organizations.

Honorary degrees were also conferred upon South African musician and activist Johnny Clegg, chemist and alumna Marye Anne Fox, human rights activist Aqqaluk Lynge of Greenland, and philanthropist and alum Steven Roth.

Four students were named valedictorians: Wills Begor, Glynnis Kearney, David Rogg and Jie Zhong were named valedictorians. Blakely Brown, Jonathan Erdman, Elizabeth Faiella and Patrick Martin tied for salutatorians.

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Nancy Bean Foster may be reached at nfoster@newstote.com.