[APPLAUSE] 
YOU'RE AN AMAZING CLASS OF 
STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO 
ACTUALLY CREATE YOUR
OWN INDUSTRY AND YOUR OWN WORLD 
AND THEN WORK IN IT BECAUSE BY 
THE TIME SOME OF YOU WHO ARE 
GRADUATING AS UNDERGRADUATES, BY
THE TIME YOU REACH 30, CHANCES 
ARE, MOST OF THE JOBS THAT WE 
ARE USED TO ARE GONE AND WERE 
REPLACED BY TECHNOLOGY.  SO 
YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE THE NEW 
JOBS, ESPECIALLY MATHEMATICIANS,
COMPUTER SCIENTISTS AND HEALTH 
PROFESSIONS.  
SO AGAIN ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE
ROWAN COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO
CONGRATULATE YOU.  YOU'RE AN 
IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND I
WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR 
FUTURE ENDEAVORS.  THANK YOU.  
[APPLAUSE] 
THIS WEEK, WE ARE GRADUATING 57 
STUDENTS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR 
COUNTRY AS MEMBERS OF THE UNITED
STATES MILITARY. THEY HAVE 
OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES AND 
HARDSHIPS OF TRANSITIONING 
BETWEEN STUDIES AND SERVICE. WE 
APPRECIATE THEIR DEDICATION TO 
BOTH EDUCATION AND MILITARY 
DUTY. WILL THOSE STUDENTS WHO 
HAVE SERVED HERE IN THE REC 
CENTER PLEASE STAND TO BE 
RECOGNIZED.  
[APPLAUSE] 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO 
OUR COUNTRY.  YOU MAY BE SEATED.
GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS DR. 
KRISTY SHUDA MCGUIRE AND I AM 
THE ASSISTANT DEAN. AT THIS 
TIME, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE
TO RECOGNIZE THE GRADUATES WHO 
HAVE EXCELLED IN THEIR ACADEMIC 
STUDIES WHILE HERE AT ROWAN. 
THESE STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING 
TODAY WITH HONORS AND FALL INTO 
THREE LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT.
STUDENTS GRADUATING CUM LAUDE 
HAVE ACHIEVED A GRADE-POINT 
AVERAGE OF 3.45 - 3.64. WILL 
THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE 
GRADUATING CUM LAUDE PLEASE 
STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. 
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
STUDENTS GRADUATING MAGNA CUM 
LAUDE HAVE ACHIEVED GRADE-POINT 
AVERAGES OF 3.65 - 3.84. WILL 
THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE 
GRADUATING MAGNA CUM LAUDE 
PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.  
[APPLAUSE] 
THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
STUDENTS GRADUATING SUMMA CUM 
LAUDE, THE HIGHEST HONOR, HAVE 
ACHIEVED GRADE-POINT AVERAGES OF
3.85 - 4.00. WILL THOSE STUDENTS
WHO HAVE ACHIEVED THIS 
DISTINCTION PLEASE STAND TO BE 
RECOGNIZED. 
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. 
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON
YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS.  AT THIS TIME
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE 
THE HONORS CONCENTRATION 
GRADUATES AND OUR HONOR SOCIETY 
MEMBERS. THEY ARE LISTED IN THE 
PROGRAM AND HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED
AT PREVIOUS CEREMONIES. WILL ALL
THESE GRADUATES PLEASE STAND. 
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON
YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS. YOU MAY BE 
SEATED.
NEXT, WE WILL HONOR OUR 
MEDALLION WINNERS. THESE ARE 
STUDENTS WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED 
THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR 
EXCELLENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, 
CHARACTER AND SERVICE TO THEIR 
COLLEGE AND DEPARTMENT.  
STUDENTS, WHEN YOUR NAME IS 
CALLED, PLEASE STAND TO BE 
RECOGNIZED. PLEASE HOLD ALL 
APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END. 
NHAN HUYNH AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE 
IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, WEN FEI 
CAO. 
JAMES M. SHAFER FOR EXCELLENCE 
IN MATHEMATICS - SAVANNA DAUTLE 
3B ORTHOPAEDICS ATHLETIC 
TRAINING STUDENT EXCELLENCE - 
SARAH NAGLE   EVELYN M. READE 
HEALTH & EXERCISE SCIENCE AWARD 
- EVAN SCHNEIDER HEALTH 
PROMOTIONS AND WELLNESS 
MANAGEMENT MEDALLION - 
PATRICK KNAPP EXCELLENCE IN 
NURSING AWARD JODIE LYNN WETZEL 
CONGRATULATIONS. (APPLAUSE) 
PLEASE BE SEATED.
 FINALLY, WE RECOGNIZE OUR 
DEAN'S OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD 
RECIPIENTS. STUDENTS, WHEN YOUR 
NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE STAND TO 
BE RECOGNIZED. PLEASE HOLD ALL 
APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END.
COMPUTER SCIENCE - RUSSELL 
BINACO  HEALTH & EXERCISE 
SCIENCE - PAUL MENNO MATHEMATICS
- PATRICK BRAY  NURSING - TERESA
SOCA  CONGRATULATIONS. 
(APPLAUSE) 
PLEASE BE SEATED.
GOOD MORNING.  I'M DR. PETER 
RATTIGAN, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR 
FACULTY AND ACADEMIC AFFAIRS. AT
THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR
A MEMBER OF THE FACULTY WHO IS 
RETIRING.
AND IS ACTUALLY OVER IN ESBY GYM
RIGHT NOW, WATCHING US ON THE 
BIG SCREEN. 
DR. ED CHALOUPKA IS AN ICON IN 
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & 
EXERCISE SCIENCE.  HE HAS 
DEDICATED HIS PROFESSIONAL 
CAREER TO ROWAN, TEACHING AND 
RESEARCH IN EXERCISE SCIENCE.  
IN ADDITION TO HIS
PH.D. A LICENSED PHYSICAL 
THERAPIST. HE HAS USED HIS RICH 
EXPERTISE TO HELP DEVELOP A 
VIBRANT PROGRAM IN EXERCISE 
SCIENCE AT ROWAN. MOST NOTABLY, 
DR. CHALOUPKA FOUNDED THE 
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY RESEARCH 
LABORATORY, NOW HOUSED IN JAMES 
HALL, AND HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
THE DEVELOPMENT AND NAMING OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & 
EXERCISE SCIENCE ITSELF.  DURING
HIS CAREER AT ROWAN,
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS HAVE 
BENEFITTED FROM DR. CHALOUPKA'S 
EXPERTISE AND RIGOROUS TEACHING.
THE HEALTH & EXERCISE SCIENCE 
DEPARTMENT WILL MISS THE 
PASSION, DISCIPLINE AND ADVOCACY
FOR THE FIELD OF EXERCISE 
SCIENCE EMBODIED BY DR. 
ED CHALOUPKA.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN A 
DEMONSTRATION OF APPRECIATION OF
AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER, SCHOLAR,
ADVOCATE AND COLLEAGUE: DR. ED 
CHALOUPKA!
[APPLAUSE]
CLASS OF 2019, CONGRATULATIONS. 
YOU ARE NOW MEMBERS OF AN ELITE 
GROUP. YOU ARE ALUMNI OF THE 
ROWAN UNIVERSITY. 
ALUMNI COMES WITH GREAT 
RESPONSIBILITY, AS YOU WILL NOW 
REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY IN YOUR
PROFESSIONAL LIVES OR FURTHER 
ACADEMIC PURSUITS. WHETHER YOU 
ARE GOING TO WORK IN YOUR CHOSEN
INDUSTRY OR CONTINUING YOUR 
EDUCATION, YOUR TIME HERE AT THE
UNIVERSITY FORMED THE FOUNDATION
OF YOUR CAREERS. 
ALTHOUGH I'M JUST COMPLETING MY 
FIRST YEAR AS YOUR DEAN, THE 
AMOUNT OF EXCELLENCE THAT I HAVE
WITNESSED IN AND OUT OF THE 
CLASSROOM IS TRULY AMAZING.  
MORE THAN 100 OF YOU WILL 
GRADUATE CUM LAUDE, MAGNA CUM 
LAUDE OR SUMMA CUM LAUDE, AND 44
OF YOU PARTICIPATED IN THE 
THOMAS N. BANTIVOGLIO HONORS
CONCENTRATION.  YOU HAVE 
CONDUCTED GROUNDBREAKING 
RESEARCH WITH OUR FACULTY AND 
SOME OF YOU PUBLISHED IN WORLD 
RENOWNED JOURNALS. 
OTHERS HAVE COMMITTED TO 
CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AT 
GRADUATE SCHOOLS.  I HAVE NO 
DOUBT THAT ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY
WILL PLAY VERY IMPORTANT ROLES 
IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF 
SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND HEALTH 
PROFESSIONS.  YOU ALSO 
UNDERSTOOD THAT GOING TO COLLEGE
IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE CLASSROOM 
AND THE RESEARCH LAB.  IT'S ALSO
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPE
WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON. 
SO YOU HAVE REPRESENTED THE 
UNIVERSITY WELL BEYOND THE 
ACADEMIC STAGE. 
YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN YOUR 
COMMUNITIES.  YOU PARTICIPATED 
IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES. 
YOU HELPED YOUR FRIENDS AND 
PERHAPS OTHERS WHOM YOU DID NOT 
EVEN KNOW.  THANK YOU FOR ALL 
YOU HAVE DONE AND FOR ALL THAT 
YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO.  ALSO GREAT
THANKS FOR CHOOSING THE COLLEGE 
OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS AND 
THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH 
PROFESSIONS.  
IT HAS BEEN A TRUE PRIVILEGE TO 
SERVE YOU.  YOUR SUCCESS FURTHER
MOTIVATES US TO CONTINUE 
PROVIDING THE BEST IN-CLASS 
INSTRUCTION AND FUTURE 
OPPORTUNITIES TO FUTURE 
GENERATIONS OF ROWAN STUDENTS.  
OUR FACULTIES ARE COMMITTED TO 
THESE GOALS.  AND 
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR 
THEIR TEACHING, MENTORING AND 
RESEARCH.  AS YOU CERTAINLY 
KNOW, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WORK 
CLOSELY WITH THE FACULTY IN THE 
CLASSROOM AND THE LABORATORY, 
AND RECEIVED AN UNMATCHED
LEVEL OF PERSONAL ATTENTION THAT
IS ONE OF OUR TRADEMARKS AND 
MAIN POINTS OF PRIDE IN
THE COLLEGE AND SCHOOL.  BEFORE 
I CONCLUDE, I WOULD LIKE TO ONCE
MORE RECOGNIZE YOUR FAMILY AND 
FRIENDS.  THANK YOU FOR STANDING
BY THESE GRADUATES IN MORE GOOD 
AND CHALLENGING TIMES.  THANK 
YOU FOR HAVING FAITH IN OUR 
FACULTY TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH 
COLLEGE. 
CLASS OF 2019, YOU ALREADY HAVE 
MADE US PROUD BY WHAT YOU HAVE 
ACCOMPLISHED AS STUDENTS. YOU 
NOW HAVE THE CHANCE TO SHOW THE 
WORLD WHAT ONE CAN DO WITH A 
ROWAN EDUCATION.  
CONGRATULATIONS! GOOD LUCK.  AND
WE LOOK TO HEARING ABOUT YOUR 
FUTURE SUCCESS.  THANK YOU! 
[APPLAUSE] 
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE 
WELCOME OUR FIRST COMMENCEMENT 
STUDENT SPEAKER REPRESENTING 
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND THE COLLEGE
OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS 
CAITLIN 
MCELWEE.  
[APPLAUSE] 
GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS. 
I KNOW WE HERE TODAY ARE 
GRADUATES OF THE COLLEGE OF 
SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS OR OF 
THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH 
PROFESSIONS, SO WHILE WE HAVE 
STRONG GRASPS ON OUR RESPECTIVE 
FIELDS IN MATH, COMPUTER 
SCIENCE, AND HEALTH AND 
MEDICINE, MAYBE NOT ALL OF US 
HAVE A LOT OF EXPOSURE TO 
LITERATURE. YOU SEE, SOMETHING 
THAT I HAVE BEEN NOTICING IN THE
BOOKS I HAVE BEEN READING WHICH 
IS A NARRATIVE STRUCTURE FOUND 
IN THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF 
STORIES. 
FASCINATING, SURE, BUT WHY BRING
UP LITERATURE IN A COMMENCEMENT 
SPEECH TO SCIENTISTS? BECAUSE WE
AS STUDENTS HAVE JUST GONE 
THROUGH, MAYBE NOT THE HERO'S 
JOURNEY, BUT THE STUDENT'S 
JOURNEY. ALLOW ME TO ELABORATE:
THE HERO STARTS IN THE ORDINARY 
WORLD, THE WORLD THEY HAVE 
ALWAYS KNOWN. THIS IS OUR HIGH 
SCHOOLS, MINE WAS CHERRY HILL 
HIGH SCHOOL EAST, AND OUR 
HOMETOWNS WHERE WE GREW UP. 
PLACES WE KNEW AND WERE 
COMFORTABLE IN. I WAS DOING JUST
FINE GROWING UP IN CHERRY HILL.
UNTIL ONE DAY THE HERO RECEIVES 
A CALL TO ADVENTURE, THAT ASKS 
THEM TO GO OUT INTO A NEW WORLD,
A NEW EXPERIENCE. DID WE NOT ALL
RECEIVE A CALL TO THIS ADVENTURE
THAT IS OUR COLLEGE CAREER, OUR 
OUR ROWAN EXPERIENCE?  I 
RECEIVED AN ACTUAL PHONE CALL, 
URGING ME TO ATTEND ROWAN. BUT 
I, LIKE THE HERO MIGHT, REFUSED 
THE CALL, RESISTING FOR A TIME 
THE JOURNEY BEFORE ME. I 
HESITATED TO ACCEPT ROWAN'S 
OFFER, HOPING ANOTHER SCHOOL 
WOULD GIVE ME A BETTER ONE, BUT 
ULTIMATELY, WE ALL LEAVE OUR 
COMFORT ZONES AND HEAD OUT INTO 
THE FANTASTIC, THAT NEW PLACE 
THE HERO MUST TRAVEL THROUGH FOR
THEIR JOURNEY. 
ONCE WE HAVE REACHED THE 
PRESIDENT'S SPEECH AND PICNIC TO
START OUR FIRST SEMESTER, WE 
HAVE CROSSED THE THRESHOLD INTO 
THE JOURNEY AHEAD AT ROWAN; WE 
HAVE ENTERED THE NEW PLACE WITH 
NO GOING BACK. WE MOVED INTO OUR
DORMS, FOR ME IT WAS EVERGREEN. 
WE TOOK OUR FIRST CLASSES LIKE 
PROFESSOR CHIEN'S 8:00 A.M. 
INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING.  
THE HERO ON THIS JOURNEY FACES 
TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES AS WE 
TRUST.  ULTIMATELY WE CONTINUE 
ON OUR GUEST.  DR. JACK ALWAYS 
PUSHED ME TO DO MORE, LIKE 
GIVING A SPEECH AT COMMENCEMENT.
THIS SERVED AS FILLER UNTIL WE 
STARTED APPROACHING THE CLIMAX. 
AS WE ON THE HERO CONTINUE THIS 
JOURNEY, WE APPROACH THE CLIMAX 
WITH THE IN MOST TAKE.  THIS IS 
THE TERRIBLE DANGER.  THE CAP 
STONE.  WE KNOW WE HAVE TO FACE 
IT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE YET TO 
FACE IT AND TRULY IT IS AN 
ORDEAL BUT BECAUSE OF THE 
JOURNEY THE HERO HAS UNDERGONE 
TO GET TO THIS POINT.  THEY HAVE
GATHERED THE SKILLS, KNOW HOW 
AND SUPPORT AND THE BELIEF THEY 
CAN OVERCOME THIS CHALLENGE AND 
THEY DO OVERCOME IT, AS ALL OF 
US HERE AS OVERCOME THIS COURSE.
THAT IS THE STANDARDIZED TEST, 
THE HURDLE BETWEEN THE START AND
END OF OUR
TIME AT ROWAN. 
UPON SURPASSING THAT HIGHEST 
HURDLE WE BECOME STRONGER, MORE 
CAPABLE AND MORE POWERFUL THAN 
EVER BEFORE; FOR WE HAVE SEIZED 
THE SWORD, SO TO SPEAK, AND 
GAINED POWER BEYOND WHAT WE EVER
THOUGHT POSSIBLE THAT LONG 
TIME AGO IN OUR HOMETOWNS. 
I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD MAKE A 
CHECKERS-PLAYING AI BY MYSELF, 
BUT WITH THIS METAPHORICAL SWORD
I FOUND I CAN DO ANYTHING.
AND THUS, WE HEAD ON THE ROAD 
BACK. 
WE APPLY TO GRADUATE, WE 
REGISTER FOR THE CLASSES OF OUR 
LAST SEMESTER.  WE START TO MAKE
PREPARATIONS TO LEAVE THIS PLACE
WE HAVE COME TO KNOW. 
THIS IS A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO 
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD BACK IN 
OUR FIRST SEMESTER HERE AT 
ROWAN, BUT THAT SENSE OF 
IMPENDING DANGER IS REPLACED 
WITH A SENSE OF TRIUMPH. 
AND FINALLY, FINALLY, THE HERO 
RETURNS HOME WITH THEIR PRIZE. 
THEY HAVE THE SWORD, 
REPRESENTING ALL THE KNOWLEDGE 
WE HAVE GAINED WHILE HERE AT 
ROWAN. THEY HAVE SLAIN THE 
BEAST, REPRESENTING PASSING THAT
FINAL COURSE OR PRESENTING OUR 
CUMULATIVE RESEARCH, AND THEY 
HAVE RETURNED WITH THE ELIXIR. 
AND HERE WE
ARE AT COMMENCEMENT.
WAITING TO RECEIVE OUR ELIXIRS 
IN THE FORM OF DIPLOMAS. OUR 
HEROIC CYCLE HAS COME TO AN END,
WE SOON GO BACK TO THE ORDINARY 
WORLDS OF OUR HOMETOWNS, BUT WE,
LIKE THE HERO AFTER THEIR 
JOURNEY, ARE CHANGED FOREVER FOR
THE BETTER. 
TOMORROW WILL START A NEW 
JOURNEY FOR ALL OF US AND WE 
WILL BE MORE PREPARED BECAUSE OF
THE JOURNEY WE HAVE JUST 
COMPLETED.
WE COULD NOT HAVE COMPLETED THE 
JOURNEY WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF 
OUR FAMILY.  TO MY PARENTS, 
GRANDPARENTS AND SIBLINGS, 
THANK-YOU FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING 
ME. TO MY FRIENDS, RUSSEL, PHIL,
NICOLE, THANK YOU
FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE. 
TO PROFESSOR CHIEN, DR. 
HRISTESCU, AND DR. TINKHAM, 
THANKS FOR YOUR GUIDANCE 
CONGRATULATIONS, HEROES. WELCOME
HOME, AND GOOD LUCK ON 
TOMORROW'S JOURNEY.
[APPLAUSE]
FOR ALL OF US HERE WE WOULD LIKE
TO THANK CAITLIN FOR THIS GREAT 
SPEECH.  
[APPLAUSE] 
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE 
WELCOME OUR SECOND COMMENCEMENT 
STUDENT SPEAKER FROM THE CLASS 
OF 2019, REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL
OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS, AEBERLI 
BEGASSE.  [APPLAUSE]
ROWAN UNIVERSITY, GRADUATING 
CLASS OF 2019, IT IS OUR TURN.  
BE INNOVATIVE, BE DIFFERENT, BE 
DRIVEN AND DELIVER.  BE KIND, 
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GIVE.  
GIVE WITHOUT THE EXPECTATION TO 
RECEIVE.
IN 2015, I GAVE A SPEECH URGING 
MY PEERS TO REMEMBER THAT WE 
HAVE OPPORTUNITY.  AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
CHOICE.  I WAS SO EXCITED TO
BE GOING TO FLORIDA TECH TO 
PURSUE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN 
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND TO BE
PARTICIPATING IN DIVISION II 
ATHLETICS.  AND AS YOU CAN SEE, 
NONE OF THAT LASTED VERY LONG.  
THE REALITY OF MY DECISION WAS: 
I WAS NEVER VERY GREAT AT MATH. 
ﾓHELLO HEALTH PROMOTION MAJORSﾔ,
MY FIRST SEMESTER I WAS 
INCREDIBLY HOMESICK AND 
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD AN INJURY 
THAT CONVINCED ME TO PUT AWAY 
THE OAR.  HOWEVER, I FORGOT TO 
TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THAT
PRIVILEGE. 
THE PRIVILEGE OF EDUCATION.  
THAT IS WHY I CHOSE ROWAN 
UNIVERSITY.  TOO MANY PEOPLE, 
TOO MANY BRIGHT MINDS DO NOT GET
THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND DO NOT GET
TO MAKE THAT SAME CHOICE.  THE 
CHOICE TO ENROLL IN A UNIVERSITY
THAT CARES SO MUCH ABOUT THEIR 
STUDENTS, THEIR EDUCATION AND 
THEIR FUTURE.  SO, I STAND HERE 
AND I URGE YOU TO USE THIS 
CHOICE TO ALWAYS BE KIND, AND TO
ALWAYS DO GOOD. 
UNFORTUNATELY, WE LIVE IN A TIME
WHERE SOCIAL INJUSTICES STILL 
EXIST, WHERE EDUCATION IS STILL 
A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT. 
WHERE HEALTHY OPTIONS ARE NOT 
AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE AND WHERE 
OPPORTUNITY IS NO LONGER MADE 
BUT IT IS GIVEN.  IF THERE IS 
ONE THING THAT I LEARNED AT 
ROWAN, IT IS THAT DIVERSITY 
MAKES THE STRONGEST TEAM.  
IT MAKES THE LARGEST IMPACT. 
YESTERDAY, WE WERE THE STUDENTS 
WHO HAD A VOICE ON CAMPUS.  WE 
ADVOCATED FOR MENTAL HEALTH 
SERVICES, AND SPOKE ON EQUALITY 
FOR ALL STUDENTS.  TODAY, WE ARE
GRADUATES WHO HAVE BEEN PROVIDED
THE SKILLS, RESOURCES AND 
KNOWLEDGE TO SPEAK FOR A LARGER 
AUDIENCE.  
 SOMEONE REALLY IMPORTANT IN MY 
LIFE, TOLD ME THIS PARABLE 
WRITTEN BY LOREN EISLEY, AND IT 
GOES LIKE THIS:
AN OLD MAN WAS WALKING ON A 
BEACH ONE MORNING AFTER A STORM.
HE SAW A YOUNG BOY IN THE 
DISTANCE, UNSURE OF WHAT HE WAS 
DOING.  HOWEVER, AS HE 
APPROACHED, HE SAW THIS BOY, HE 
WAS PICKING UP STARFISH AND 
THROWING THEM BACK INTO THE 
OCEAN.  THE OLD MAN ASKED HIM 
WHY HE WAS DOING THIS.  THE 
YOUNG BOY RESPONDED THAT IF THE 
STARFISH WERE TO STAY ON THE 
SHORE, THEY WOULD ALL DIE.  THE 
OLD MAN SAYS, ﾓTHE BEACH GOES ON
FOR MILES AND THERE ARE MILLIONS
OF STARFISH, HOW IS YOUR EFFORT 
GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?ﾔ  
THE BOY PICKS UP ANOTHER 
STARFISH, AND SAFELY TOSSES IT 
BACK INTO THE OCEAN AND SAYS,
ﾓIT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THAT 
ONE.ﾔ IT IS OUR TURN, TO RIGHT 
THE WRONGS.  IT IS OUR TURN, TO 
USE KINDNESS AS OUR 
VEHICLE. IT IS OUR TURN, TO 
SPEAK AMONGST INFLUENCERS AND TO
ADVOCATE FOR THE CHANGE WE 
BELIEVE IN.  IT IS NOW OUR DUTY,
TO USE THIS EDUCATION TO MAKE A 
DIFFERENCE, EVEN IF IT IS FOR 
ONE PERSON.  WE MAKE A 
PLEDGE TODAY, TO ENVISION THE 
WORLD WE WANT TO LIVE AND MAKE 
THOSE VISIONS COME TO LIFE.  
WE CAN MAKE STRIDES TO CURING 
CANCER, ENDING OBESITY, SOLVING 
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS OR EVEN
BRINGING MORE AWARENESS TO 
MENTAL HEALTH.  BE INNOVATIVE.  
BE DRIVEN.  BE DIFFERENT AND 
DELIVER. 
BE KIND, AND ALWAYS REMEMBER TO 
GIVE.  GIVE WITHOUT THE 
EXPECTATION TO RECEIVE.  MAKE 
THOSE EFFORTS TO THROW THAT ONE 
STARFISH BACK INTO THE OCEAN.
AMONGST US GRADUATES, ARE OUR 
SUPPORTERS.  SO, I WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK A FEW OF
MINE.  HERE IS TO MY FOUR OLDER 
SIBLINGS: THANK YOU FOR MAKING 
ALL THE MISTAKES, THAT WAY I 
DIDN'T NEED TO.  YOU MADE A PATH
THAT WAS ONCE ALL BRUSH INTO A 
PAVED ROAD.  HERE IS TO MY 
PARENTS:  THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
NEVER ENDING SUPPORT, GUIDING ME
INTO A PROMISING FUTURE.  THANK 
YOU FOR SHOWING ME WHAT KINDNESS
LOOKS LIKE.  AS YOU ALL SAY, 
BEING NICE MATTERS. 
HERE IS TO MY PROFESSORS, AND TO
NAME A FEW DR. BIREN, DR. 
FREIDENREICH, DR. VAUGHN AND DR.
SPENCER: THANK YOU FOR PASSING 
DOWN ALL YOUR KNOWLEDGE ONTO ME,
AND MY FELLOW CLASSMATES.  THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS I ASKED
YOU TO SEND ME THOUSANDS OF 
LETTER RECOMMENDATIONS. 
YOU ALL HAVE PLAYED SUCH A LARGE
PART IN MY FUTURE.  HERE IS TO 
ALL MY FRIENDS: THANK YOU FOR 
MAKING ROWAN UNIVERSITY ONE OF 
THE BEST DECISIONS OF MY LIFE.
WE ALL ARE HEADING DOWN 
DIFFERENT AVENUES.  REGARDLESS 
OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING, DO IT 
WELL.  DO IT WITH PURPOSE AND 
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO DO IT WITH 
GOOD INTENTIONS.  WE ARE GOING 
TO BE MAKING MANY MORE CHOICES, 
AND PRESENTED WITH MANY MORE 
PRIVILEGES THAT WE WILL ABSENTLY
BE GRATEFUL FOR.  
APPRECIATE THOSE WHO SUPPORT YOU
AND SUPPORT THOSE YOU LOVE.  
EVERYTHING GREAT STARTED SMALL. 
NEVER STOP GROWING INTO YOUR 
ROLE, NEVER BE SATISFIED IN 
LIFE.  REMEMBER TO CARE ENOUGH 
TO BE THAT PERSON WHO WALKED THE
COASTLINE.  AS WE ALL KNOW, WE 
ARE THE REAL RU, THANK YOU!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU, AEBERLI FOR THIS 
GREAT SPEECH.  
WILL PRESIDENT HOUSHMAND AND 
DEAN JONES PLEASE JOIN ME AT THE
PODIUM? 
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR 
UNIVERSITY FAMILY HAS SADDENED 
TO LOSE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, 
DAVID BROWN FROM COMPUTING AND 
INFORMATICS.  WOULD CHERYL 
BROWN, DAVID'S WIFE, PLEASE JOIN
US ON STAGE?  
  IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT 
I AWARD THIS DEGREE. IT IS AN 
HONOR TO PRESENT YOU WITH 
DAVID'S DIPLOMA.  WE CELEBRATE 
HIS LIFE AND AWARD HIS 
ACHIEVEMENTS BY AWARDING HIS 
DEGREE HERE TODAY.  
[APPLAUSE] 
LET'S HONOR DAVID WITH A MOMENT 
OF SILENCE.  THANK YOU.  
[APPLAUSE] 
WILL ALL THE MASTER'S AND 
BACHELOR'S STUDENTS PLEASE 
STAND?  AS YOU KNOW, ON SATURDAY
WE HELD OUR CAMPUS WIDE 
COMMENCEMENT EVENT HERE ON THE 
MAIN CAMPUS TO CELEBRATE ROWAN'S
BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S, EDUCATION 
SPECIALIST, DOCTORAL AND MEDICAL
DEGREE CANDIDATES.  IT WAS 
DURING THAT EVENT THAT PRESIDENT
HOUSHMAND, PROVOST NEWELL AND 
CHAD BRUNER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES 
OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED OUR 
BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE 
CANDIDATES AS HAVING COMPLETED 
ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR 
GRADUATION.  WITH THAT, OUR 
COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT,
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT AND 
SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS 
GRADUATES WERE CONFERRED THE 
MASTER OF ARTS, MASTER OF 
SCIENCE, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN 
NURSING, BACHELOR OF ARTS, 
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DEGREES 
WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES,
RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS
OF THOSE DEGREES.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU. 
[APPLAUSE]
YOU MAY BE SEATED.
IT'S NOW TIME TO PROCEED TO THE 
PRESENTATION OF GRADUATES.  EACH
OF OUR GRADUATES WILL BE CALLED 
INDIVIDUALLY BY PROGRAM 
BEGINNING WITH STUDENTS EARNING 
BACHELOR'S DEGREES AND MASTER'S 
DEGREES. 
FOR THE PRESENTATION OF 
GRADUATES IN A COUPLE OF 
MINUTES, I WILL TURN THE 
MICROPHONE TO MR. MATT 
MARTUCCI.
I ASK THAT ALL FAMILY MEMBERS 
REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS SO
YOU DO NOT OBSTRUCT THE VIEW OF 
OTHERS OR GET IN THE WAY OF OUR 
STUDENTS.
A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER WILL
TAKE THREE PHOTOS OF OUR 
STUDENTSﾗONE BEFORE THEY CROSS 
THE STAGE, ANOTHER AS THEY SHAKE
HANDS WITH ME, AND A THIRD AT 
THE BOTTOM OF THE STAGE. THE 
STUDENTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN CONTACT
INFORMATION TO HAVE THE PROOFS 
MAILED HOME.
ALSO, YOU ARE WELCOME TO TAKE 
PHOTOS IN FRONT OF THE PLATFORM 
STAGE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 
CEREMONY.
AND NOW, THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL
BEEN WAITING FORﾗTHE READING OF 
NAMES!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
CANDIDATES FOR THE MASTER OF 
ARTS IN
MATHEMATICS ARE.  
[READING NAMES OF GRADUATES] 
CANDIDATES
FOR THE BACHELOR OF COMPUTER 
SCIENCE.  
[READING NAMES OF GRADUATES] 
BACHELOR BACHELOR'S FOR 
COMPUTING AND
INFORMATICS.  
[READING NAMES OF GRADUATES] 
BACHELOR'S OF
MATHEMATICS.  
[READING NAMES OF GRADUATES] 
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TODAY'S 
CEREMONY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO 
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
THE AUDIENCE IS REQUESTED TO 
REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL THE 
PLATFORM PARTY HAS RECESSED. 
SHUTTLES TO THE PARKING LOTS ARE
AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO NEED 
THEM OUTSIDE ESBY. 
WILL EVERYONE PLEASE RISE FOR 
THE RECESSIONAL.
