[ all singing ] OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY
LIGHT, WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL'D AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING?
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS, THRO' THE
PERILOUS FIGHT, O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH'D, WERE SO GALLANTLY
STREAMING? AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING
IN AIR, GAVE PROOF THRO' THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL
THERE. O SAY, DOES THAT STAR SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE
O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE?
[ applause ]
(JANA QUISENBERRY) LET US BEGIN THIS DAY WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE
AND SOLIDARITY AND MOURNING WITH THOSE AFFECTED
BY THE TRAGEDY IN CONNECTICUT, AFTER WHICH PLEASE REMAIN
IN A SPIRIT OF PRAYER WITH ME AS WE BEGIN OUR INVOCATION.
WILL YOU PLEASE BE SILENT WITH ME? GRACIOUS GOD WE
THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMENCEMENT SERVICE WHICH IS BOTH CULMINATION
AND BEGINNING. WE THANK YOU FOR THE JOURNEY OF
EDUCATION THESE GRADUATES HAVE ENJOYED AND FOR THE CHARACTER
FORMATION THAT HAS OCCURRED ALONG THE WAY. WE THANK YOU
FOR ALL THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN THAT EDUCATION AND
FORMATION FROM FOOD SERVICE STAFF TO PROFESSORS TO DEANS
AND FOR THEIR CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. FOR
THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO CELEBRATE WITH THE GRADUATES
FOR THEIR SUPPORT, THEIR DREAMS, AND THE MEANING THEIR
PRIDE ADDS TO THIS ACHIEVEMENT, AND FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY WITH THEIR SHARED VALUES OF INTEGRITY,
CIVILITY, AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT BIND OUR HEARTS IN
COMMON PRINCIPAL AND PURPOSE, FOR TURNING I COULD TO I
WILL, CLASSMATES TO FRIENDS, PROFESSORS TO INSPIRATION, WE
THANK YOU. MAY WE HAVE THE SAME TRANSFORMTIVE POWER IN
ALL WE DO. AMEN. [ applause ]
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) YOU MAY BE SEATED. BEFORE WE BEGIN, LET ME
MAKE A BRIEF MENTION THAT SHOULD THE FIRE ALARM GO OFF,
PLEASE REMAIN CALM AND IN YOUR SEATS AND AWAIT FARTHER DIRECTION
FROM ME SHOULD THERE INDEED BE AN EMERGENCY. GOOD
MORNING, AND WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S
175th COMMENCEMENT CELEBRATION. I AM DR. DR. BRUCE
BARNHART, ACTING PROVOST OF CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA
AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MEMBERS OF THE PLATFORM
PARTY AND SEVERAL OTHER PERSONS HERE WITH US TODAY. I
WILL BEGIN INTRODUCTIONS WITH THOSE SEATED IN THE BACK
ROW, AND ASK EACH PERSON TO STAND AS HIS OR HER NAME IS
CALLED, AND MAY I ASK THAT YOU, THE AUDIENCE, HOLD YOUR
APPLAUSE UNTIL EVERYONE IS INTRODUCED. DR. DANIEL
ENGSTROM, ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT
OF STUDENT RETENTION AND SUCCESS. DR. CARYL SHEFFIELD,
INTERIM ASSOCIATE PROVOST. DR. STEVEN WHITEHEAD, INTERIM
ASSOCIATE PROVOST. DR. WILLIAM EDMUNDS, DEAN OF
ADMISSIONS. MR. DOUGLAS HOOVER, DEAN OF LIBRARY SERVICES.
DR. JOHN KALLIS, EBERLY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
DR. MOHAMED YAMBA, INTERIM DEAN, COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS.
DR. KEVIN KOURY, DEAN, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN
SERVICES. DR. STANLEY KOMASIC, DEAN, SCHOOL OF GRADUATE
STUDIES AND RESEARCH, ASSOCIATE PROVOST. DR. NANCY
KOMARDI, INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS. DR.
CHARLES MANCE, VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES. MS. SHARON NAVONEY, INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR
UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT AND CAL U FOR LIFE. MR. ROBERT
THORN, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE. MR.
ROBERT MINER, Jr., CLASS OF 1978, COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES.
MR. MICHEAL CROZINE, STUDENT MEMBER, COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES.
THE REVEREND JANA QUISENBERRY, PASTOR, CALIFORNIA UNITED
CHRISTIAN CHURCH. DR. WILLIAM BIDDINGTON, PROFESSOR,
DEPARTMENT OF EXERCISE SCIENCE AND SPORTS STUDIES, FACULTY
MARSHALL. MR. WALTER DANIEL HARRIS III, 2012 SENIOR CLASS
ENVOY AND GRADUATING SENIOR, MR. MICHAEL NAPOLITANO, CLASS
OF 1968, COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES. MR. JAMES DAVIS, CLASS OF
1973, COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES. MRS. MICHELLE MANDELLE, CLASS
OF 1969, COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES. MRS. TERRI DUNN, CLASS OF
1980, TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKER. MRS. GERALDINE JONES, ACTING
PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. [ applause ]
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WHO WILL BE
PRESENTING ALUMNI PINS TO THE GRADUATES ARE SEATED TO MY
LEFT MRS. CATHY CONNELLY, CLASS OF 1995 AND 1996, DIRECTOR
OF CAL U FOR LIFE. MISS LESLIE FLEENOR, CLASS OF 2008,
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CAL U FOR LIFE. [ applause ]
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DR. YUGO IKACH, THE UNIVERSITY
CHOIR WILL NOW PRESENT "FOREVER CAL" WORDS AND MUSIC BY
BOB DYLAN AND ROD STEWART, ARRANGED BY RUSS SHIVELY.
[ singing ] MAY THE GOOD LORD BE WITH YOU DOWN EVERY ROAD
YOU ROAM, AND MAY SUNSHINE AND HAPPINESS SURROUND YOU
WHEN YOU'RE FAR FROM HOME, AND MAY YOU GROW TO BE PROUD
DIGNIFIED AND TRUE, AND DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU'D HAVE DONE
TO YOU. BE COURAGEOUS AND BE BRAVE AND IN MY HEART YOU'LL
ALWAYS STAY
FOREVER CAL, FOREVER CAL, FOREVER CAL, FOREVER CAL. MAY
GOOD FORTUNE BE WITH YOU MAY YOUR GUIDING LIGHT BE
STRONG. BUILD A STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN WITH A PRINCE OR A
VAGABOND. AND MAY YOU NEVER LOVE IN VAIN AND IN MY HEART
YOU WILL REMAIN FOREVER CAL, FOREVER CAL, FOREVER CAL,
FOREVER CAL, FOREVER CAL, FOREVER CAL. [ applause ]
(GERALDINE JONES) GOOD MORNING: UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES, REVEREND
QUISENBERRY, MS. DUNN, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, PARENTS AND
FAMILY MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2012!
I WELCOME YOU TO CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S
175TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN
MY REMARKS THIS MORNING WITH A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE
FACULTY MEMBERS PRESENT FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS. YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED
YOUR COMMITMENT TO TEACHING MENTORING AND CHALLENGING
OUR STUDENTS AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
PLEASE, FACULTY MEMBERS STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED AT THIS
TIME. [ applause ]
I HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS UNIVERSITY FOR
APPROXIMATELY 45 YEARS. FIRST AS A STUDENT BOTH
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE, THEN AS A FACULTY MEMBER, DEAN, PROVOST,
AND NOW AS AN ACTING PRESIDENT. AS AN ALUMNA AND AN
EMPLOYEE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY
AND THIS GREAT INSTITUTION HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT AND BIG
PART OF MY LIFE. IN MY CURRENT ROLE AS ACTING PRESIDENT I
AM EVEN MORE PROUD OF THE UNIVERSITY AND COGNIZANT OF IT'S
PROUD HISTORY AND THE HISTORY YET TO BE WRITTEN. I AM
PROUD OF YOU, OUR GRADUATES, FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND THE
SACRIFICES MADE TO GET TO THIS POINT. I AM VERY MUCH
AWARE OF THE ROLE EACH OF YOU WILL PLAY IN THE FUTURE OF
OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD. FOR OVER 160 YEARS THIS
UNIVERSITY HAS PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH A FIRST CLASS
EDUCATION. THOSE STUDENT HAVE GONE ON IN THE WORLD AFTER
RECEIVING THEIR DIPLOMAS, JUST LIKE YOU WILL DO AND THESE
ALUMNI HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. THESE ALUMNI HAVE CHANGED
LIVES RESHAPED COMMUNITIES AND MADE THE WORLD A BETTER
PLACE. AND EACH OF OUR GRADUATES TODAY WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME. WHETHER YOU ARE RECEIVING A
DEGREE IN EDUCATION OR HISTORY OR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY YOU
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD AROUND YOU. REMEMBER TO HELP
OTHERS, TO GIVE A KIND OR ENCOURAGING WORD TO THOSE WHO
NEED IT AND ALWAYS COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, EACH OF US HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR OUR FELLOW MAN. SO I ASK YOU
TO LEAD THE WAY. PONDER HOW YOU CAN LEND A HAND OR MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. NO MATTER WHAT CAREER PATH YOU CHOSE THOSE
SPECIAL MOMENTS YOU SPEND HELPING OTHERS WILL SHAPE YOU
INTO A GOOD HUMAN BEING. AS GRADUATES ALL OF YOU WILL
TAKE DIFFERENT PATHS IN LIFE. THERE WILL BE MANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AND MANY DECISIONS THAT WILL NEED TO
BE MADE. THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND DECISIONS WILL NEVER
CEASE, BUT EACH ONE WILL ENHANCE YOUR CHARACTER, HELP
DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE AND ADD ANOTHER EXPERIENCE TO YOUR
LIFE STORY. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT SAID THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS
TO LIVE IT, TO TASTE EXPERIENCE TO THE UTMOST, TO REACH
OUT EAGERLY AND WITHOUT FEAR FOR NEWER AND RICHER
EXPERIENCE. BE CONFIDENT AS YOU TASTE THOSE EXPERIENCES,
APPRECIATE YOUR TALENTS AND GIFTS AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.
LIVE YOUR LIFE VIBRANTLY AND ENJOY EVERY STEP OF YOUR
JOURNEY. AS YOU ENTER THIS NEXT EXCITING PHASE IN YOUR
LIFE, WE ASK YOU TO REMEMBER CAL U. THE FRIENDS YOU'VE
MADE HERE THE PROFESSORS WHO HAVE MENTORED YOU AND EVEN
THOSE TIMES WHICH MAY HAVE TESTED YOU AND CAUSED YOU TO
WANT TO THROW YOUR HANDS UP IN FRUSTRATION BECAUSE OF ALL
THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PERSON YOU ARE
TODAY. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CAL U DOES
NOT END HERE. A NEW PHASE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. WHEN YOU
DEPART WITH YOUR DIPLOMA, YOU WILL BE AN ALUMNA OR AN
ALUMNUS. AND WE HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS GREAT INSTITUTION.
WE WILL WELCOME YOU BACK TO CAMPUS WITH OPEN ARMS WHENEVER
YOU ARE ABLE TO VISIT. AS YOU PREPARE TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE
THIS MORNING TO RECEIVE YOUR DIPLOMA, PLEASE PAUSE
FOR A SECOND AND GIVE YOURSELF A MENTAL PAT ON THE BACK.
TAKE IN THE MOMENT, AND BASK IN YOUR SUCCESS. YOU HAVE
WORKED HARD YOU HAVE PERSEVERED AND YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT. BE PROUD OF YOURSELF. THINK OF
THE PARENTS WHO HELPED YOU AND ENCOURAGED YOU ALONG THE
WAY. AND REMEMBER THAT THIS IS TRULY THE BEGINNING
OF AN EXCITING CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE. A DIFFERENT ONE, OF
COURSE, BUT AN EXCITING ONE NONETHELESS. ALL OF US HERE AT
CAL U OUR TRUSTEES, ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY AND STAFF,
AND YOUR FELLOW ALUMNI ARE PROUD OF EACH OF YOU AND
YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, AND WE OFFER HEART FELT CONGRATULATIONS
TO YOU ON THIS, YOUR GRADUATION DAY. MAY YOUR
LIFE BE FILLED WITH CONTINUED SUCCESSES, JUST ENOUGH CHALLENGES
TO MAKE LIFE INTERESTING AND ABUNDANT JOY. CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF 2012. THANK YOU.
[ applause ]
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. WALTER HARRIS, 2012
SENIOR CLASS ENVOY AND GRADUATING SENIOR.
[ applause ]
(WALT HARRIS)
HI, MOM. [ laughter ]
AND GOOD MORNING GRADUATES. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE
WITH YOU TODAY AND FORMALLY PRESENT THE SENIOR CLASS GIFT
ON BEHALF OF ALL SENIORS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE
SCHOLARSHIP FUND. THOSE OF US WHO WORKED ON AND
CONTRIBUTED TO THE 2012 SENIOR GIFT DRIVE CERTAINLY
EMBRACED THE IDEA OF A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP WITH CAL U.
AS PRESIDENT JONES MENTIONED IN HER REMARKS, AS STUDENTS
AT CAL U, WE LEARNED IT IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO WORK,
STUDY AND SET GOALS FOR OUR CAREER, BUT BUILDING OUR
CHARACTER IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FOR THAT IS WHAT SETS US
APART AS HUMAN BEING AND ENABLES US TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
GLOBAL COMMUNITY. THE GIFT I PRESENT TODAY REPRESENTS OUR
COMMITMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY'S CORE VALUES; INTEGRITY,
CIVILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL THE THE UNIVERSITY'S
BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. PRESIDENT JONES, ON
BEHALF OF THE DECEMBER GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2012 AND
THE MANY GENEROUS FAMILIES WHO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS OF
THEIR STUDENT AND CONTRIBUTED A MATCHING GIFT, I AM
PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,702.39.
THANK YOU. [ applause ]
THIS IS A TOKEN OF OUR PLEDGE TO HAVE A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ALMA MATER, CALIFORNIA
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. THANK YOU.
[ applause ]
(GERALDINE JONES) WALTER AND THE CLASS OF 2012, ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA AND ALL THE STUDENTS
WE SERVE, I THANK YOU FOR THIS GENEROUS DONATION WHICH
WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR DESERVING STUDENTS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ESTABLISH THIS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
IN HONOR OF THE CLASS OF 2012. THANK YOU.
[ applause ]
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S
GUEST SPEAKER, MS. TERI DUNN. MS. TERI DUNN, CLASS
OF 1980 HAS BEEN A CONSULTANT FOR MANUFACTURERS, FINANCE
COMPANIES AND INDEPENDENT DEALERSHIPS IN THE OFFICE PRODUCTS
INDUSTRY SINCE 2006, WHEN SHE ALSO BEGAN DELIVERING
SPEECHES AND SELLING MANAGED PRINT SERVICES TRAINING ON
BEHALF OF THE LEARNING OUTSOURCE GROUP. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES
ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR RAMPART GLOBAL INC.,
AN ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT RESOURCE COMPANY. PREVIOUSLY, MS.
DUNN ENJOYED A DISTINGUISHED 26-YEAR CAREER WITH GLOBAL
IMAGING SYSTEMS COMPANIES IN PENNSYLVANIA, WASHINGTON AND
OREGON. AFTER STARTING IN SALES AT GLOBAL IMAGING, SHE ROSE
THROUGH
VARIOUS EXECUTIVE POSITIONS UNTIL SHE ULTIMATELY WAS NAMED
GLOBAL CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING. IN THAT ROLE,
SHE MANAGED THE ROLLOUT OF GLOBAL IMAGING'S SUCCESSFUL
NATIONAL PRINT MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE. MS. DUNN ALSO WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR CURRICULUM, ADMINISTRATION AND TRAINING
FOR THE "SALES AND MARKETING" MODULE WITHIN THE NATIONAL
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. SHE IS A TRAINED FACILITATOR
FOR FISH! PHILOSOPHY, A DYNAMIC PROGRAM THAT TEACHES TEAM-
BUILDING AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. MS. DUNN HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT HER CAREER. AS A
MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP PITTSBURGH PROGRAM, SHE WAS NAMED
ONE OF THE CITY'S TOP 50 BUSINESS LEADERS IN 1998. SHE WAS
A MEMBER OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF PITTSBURGH FOR 12 YEARS AND
SERVED TWO TERMS ON ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MS. DUNN
SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE GREATER PITTSBURGH FOOD BANK AND WAS BOARD PRESIDENT
FROM 1996-1998. IN 1997 PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR TOM
RIDGE RECOGNIZED HER PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE
STATEWIDE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER, AND SHE WAS HONORED
AS ONE OF PITTSBURGH'S COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS IN 1998.
IN 2001, THE FOOD BANK'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY, SHE ACCEPTED
ITS AWARD FOR VISION AND INNOVATION. IN 2002 MS. DUNN RECEIVED
THE ALUMNI PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. THE FOLLOWING
YEAR KENTUCKY GOVERNOR PAUL E. PATTON APPOINTED HER A KENTUCKY
COLONEL, AND IN 2004, SHE JOINED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE WESLEY INSTITUTE IN PITTSBURGH. MS. DUNN HOLDS
A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS FROM
CALIFORNIA STATE COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA. SHE HAS DELIVERED
GUEST LECTURES AT CAL U. PLEASE JOIN ME NOW IN WELCOMING
MISS TERI DUNN.
[ applause ]
(MS. TERI DUNN) GOOD MORNING AND CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES.
IN 1976 MY PARENTS AND I PULLED INTO A GRAVEL PARKING
LOT THAT OCCUPIED THE VERY SAME PLACE THAT YOU ARE
SITTING TODAY. CAL LOOKED A LOT DIFFERENT THEN. AT THE TIME
THOUGH, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE GREATEST PLACE ON EARTH.
BECAUSE IT REPRESENTED INDEPENDENCE. IN RETROSPECT, AS
I LOOK BACK, CAL WAS REALLY THE PLACE THAT I STARTED THE
GROW UP. WHILE IT HAS A CONSTANTLY CHANGING FACE,
CAL HAS LIVED UP TO THE SAME EXPECTATIONS THAT IT HAS HAD OF
ALL OF ITS STUDENTS OVER THE LAST 175 YEARS. SHE HAS
WEATHERED CHANGING ECONOMY, DIFFICULT TIMES, POLITICS,
AND COMPETITION. CAL HAS MADE ADJUSTMENTS AND
CHANGES AND HAS BECOME MUCH, MUCH MORE SELF-RELIANT. CAL HAS
BECOME A LEADER IN EDUCATION AND A BRAND IN AND OF
ITSELF. BUT CAL HAD LEFT ENOUGH OF HER CORE THAT WHEN ALUMNI
RETURN TO CAMPUS, OUR HEARTS ARE FILLED WITH PRIDE. AND
TODAY
GRADUATES, YOUR FAMILIES FEEL THIS SAME PRIDE AS THEY LOOK
AT YOU AND ANTICIPATE WHAT YOU WILL BECOME. AT THE
REQUEST OF PRESIDENT JONES, AND WITH THE KEEPING OF
TRADITION OF HAVING AN ALUM SPEAK, I WILL HIGHLIGHT MY
JOURNEY SINCE LEAVING CAL, AND AS WELL, I WILL SHARE SOME
HUMBLE EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.
FOUR YEARS AFTER STEPPING FOOT ON THIS PROPERTY, I, LIKE
YOU, GRADUATED. TWO WEEKS LATER I HAD LANDED MYSELF A
JOB. I LANDED MYSELF A JOB WITH A COMPANY THAT DID LESS
THAN $1.6 MILLION IN BUSINESS A YEAR. I HAD TAKEN A JOB
SELLING COPY MACHINES, AND NO ONE WAS VERY IMPRESSED BUT I
NEEDED A ROOF A OVER MY HEAD AND FOOD IN MY BELLY AND I
HAD A COUPLE OF PROFESSORS, MARCY BLOUT AND PATRICK
MILLER, WHO ARE WITH US HERE TODAY, WHO HAD CONVINCED ME
THAT I COULD DO ANYTHING IF I APPLIED MYSELF. IT WAS HARD
WORK. IT WAS VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE. THE DAYS WERE
FILLED WITH REJECTION AND I HAD TO ACQUIRE A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE OF MANAGING MY OWN TIME OUTSIDE
OF AN OFFICE OR SUPERVISOR, BUT MY THINKING WAS THAT TIME
WAS THE COMMODITY THAT I HAD THAT WAS THE SAME AS EVERYONE
ELSE'S. I DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THAT ALL OF THE
OTHER SALESMAN HAD, BUT I HAD THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND HOW I SPENT THAT TIME MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE
WORLD. I WANTED DESPERATELY TO CHANGE THE PERCEPTION THAT
I WAS A YOUNG COLLEGE KID. SO I HAD TO MAKE MYSELF
VALUABLE. I HAD TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY. I
HAD TO BECOME A BRAND IN AND OF MYSELF. I HAD TO BECOME
SOMETHING THAT COULDN'T BE DUPLICATED. JUST A FEW YEARS
LATER, I WAS ABLE TO BUY INTO THAT COMPANY, THAT SMALL
BUSINESS AND ABOUT 10 YEARS LATER, WE SOLD THAT BUSINESS
FOR ABOUT 25 TIMES ITS VALUE WHEN I STARTED. WE SOLD TO A
COMPANY CALLED GLOBAL IMAGING SYSTEMS AND THEY CONTRACTED
THREE OF US TO STAY ON AND CONTINUE TO RUN THE BUSINESS.
WE CHOOSE TO SELL TO GLOBAL BECAUSE GLOBAL HAD AN
ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS MODEL. MEANING THEY WANTED US TO
RUN THAT BUSINESS JUST LIKE IT WERE OUR OWN, MAKE DECISIONS
AS THOUGH THAT BUSINESS WAS OUR OWN BUSINESS. SO WE
ACQUIRED OTHER COMPANIES, WE CONTINUED TO HAVE INTERNAL
GROWTH AND IN JUST THREE YEARS WE WENT PUBLIC WITH OUR
STOCK OFFERING. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TRANSFERRED TO
SEATLE, AND MY JOB WAS TO BE PRESIDENT OF A GROUP OF
COMPANIES AND IT WAS A PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TIME, IT
WAS THE TIME OF THE DOT-COM BUST, Y2K, EARTHQUAKES, A
HIGH-TECH DOWNSIZING. IT WAS MOST CHALLENGING TIME OF MY
CAREER. BUT THERE WAS THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL MODEL. I WAS
VESTED IN MY OWN DECISION MAKING. I COULD MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN, INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THINGS TO HAPPEN TO US.
WEATHERING THAT STORM EARNED ME THE POSITION OF VICE
PRESIDENT OF MARKING FOR GLOBAL IMAGING SYSTEMS NATIONALLY. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, WHAT
STARTED AS
AN OPPORTUNITY WITH A LESS THAN $1.6 MILLION COMPANY GREW
INTO WHAT WAS ACQUIRED BY XEROX IN THE YEAR 2007 FOR $1.5
BILLION DOLLARS AND I AM SO VERY PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE
MANY ENTREPRENEURS THAT MADE THAT POSSIBLE. YOU SEE IN
BUSINESS REVEUE AND PROFIT ARE MEASURES OF SUCCESS, BUT
SUCCESS CAN ALSO BE MEASURED IN OTHER WAYS. BY THE ART
THAT YOU CREATE, BY THE BUILDINGS THAT YOU BUILD, BY THE
DISCOVERIES THAT YOU MAKE, BY THE CASES THAT YOU WIN, BY
THE CHILDREN THAT YOU TEACH. THE CAREER THAT YOU HAVE
JUST SPEND YEARS PREPARING FOR WILL CERTAINLY COME WITH A
PAYCHECK, SOME WILL BE BIGGER THAN OTHERS. BUT I CAN TELL
YOU FROM EXPERIENCE THAT NO PAYCHECK IS AS FULFILLING AS
THE DEPOSITS YOU MAKE OF YOUR TIME TALENT AND TREASURE IN
OTHERS. YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. YOU HAVE
A CHANCE TO PAY BACK. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS SELDOM
THAT ANY OF US GET TO WHERE WE ARE OR SUCCEED WITHOUT THE
HELP OF OTHERS. I HAVE A HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER WHO ARE
CONSTANT SOURCES OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME. I HAD MENTORS
HERE AT CAL THAT I TURN TO EVEN THIS DAY. I HAD PEERS IN
THE WORKPLACE THAT I LEARNED FROM. I HAD MANAGERS THAT
CRITIQUED ME AND HELPED ME GROW. I HAD EMPLOYEES THAT ALL
BUT DROVE ME MAD AND EMPLOYEES THAT CHALLENGED ME AND
EMPLOYEES THAT I TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN. I HAD CUSTOMERS
THAT BLESSED ME AND I HAD CUSTOMERS THAT TAUGHT ME LESSONS
THAT I WILL NEVER FORGOT. THESE ALL DESERVE DEPOSITS OF
OUR TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE. EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL BE
GIVEN A CHANCE TO SUCCEED, BUT YOU WON'T BE ENTITLED TO
SUCCESS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CHOICES THAT YOU MAKE. IN MY
PERSONAL STORY, I SHARED SOME KEYWORDS. ENTREPRENEUR, TIME, OPPORTUNITY, PERCEPTION, AND VALUE.
WHEN I REFLECT ON THE YEARS SINCE I LEFT CAL THOSE WERE MY
DIFFERENTIATORS. ENTREPRENEUR, RUN YOURSELF LIKE YOU ARE
YOUR OWN BUSINESS, MAKE YOURSELF A BRAND. A BRAND THAT
YOU CAN BE PROUD OF, AND A BRAND THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
DON'T WAIT FOR OTHERS TO EVALUATE YOU, EVALUATE YOURSELF.
TIME, THAT GREAT EQUALIZER. REGARDLESS OF YOUR FINAL GPA
WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY, YOU WILL ALL HAVE THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME. USE IT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. OPPORTUNITY, YOU WILL ALL BE FACED WITH PLENTY,
BUT THOMAS EDISON SAID OPPORTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST
BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE HARD WORK.
BE WILLING TO TAKE ON THE TASK THAT OTHERS ARE NOT. BE
WILLING TO DO WHAT OTHERS ARE NOT. EMBRACE AND MASTER THE
UNCOMFORTABLE. PERCEPTION, BE IN CHARGE OF OTHERS
PERCEPTION OF YOU. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE SOMEONE'S PERCEPTION OF YOU, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR
EXPERIENCE. AND VALUE, WE HEAR THE TERM ADDED-VALUE THROWN
AROUND LOOSELY. IN BUSINESS, THE TRUE DEFINITION
OF VALUE IS, THE CUSTOMERS PERCEPTION OF THE POTENTIAL
COST OF NOT DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU. IN YOUR PERSONAL
LIFE, VALUE IS
SOMEONE'S PERCEPTION OF THE POTENTIAL COST OF NOT HAVING
YOU. DON'T JUST SHOW UP. MAKE YOURSELF VALUABLE. BE
WILLING TO RISK AND MAKE MISTAKES. THE NUMBER OF
SUCCESSES YOU HAVE IN LIFE WILL BE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO
THE NUMBER OF MISTAKES YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE. I HAVE
MADE COUNTLESS MISTAKES OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES. IN
FACT IN 2002, AFTER REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKE OVER AND
OVER AND OVER IN THE BUSINESS WORLD THAT CAUSE ME AND
UNFORTUNATELY MY EMPLOYEES HEART ACHE AND FRUSTRATION, IT
TOOK A SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO FINALLY DRILL
INTO MY HEAD THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON OF MY CAREER. IT
WAS EASTER SUNDAY IN 2002. I WAS, I THOUGHT, AT THE TOP
OF MY GAME. MY GROUP OF COMPANIES WERE LEADING THE
COUNTRY IN REVENUE AND PROFITS. CAL U HAD JUST GIVEN ME
AN ALUMNI PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD, AND BEST OF ALL,
I HAD JUST LOST 30 POUNDS ON THE ATKINS DIET. I WAS
FEELING MIGHTY GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL
EASTER SUNDAY MORNING, AND I WAS DELIGHTED TO FIT INTO A
HOT PINK SUIT THAT I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIT INTO FOR
QUITE SOME TIME. THE WAIST WAS EVEN A LITTLE LOOSE. I
WAS FEELING GOOD. WE ALL HAD JOBS AT THE CHURCH THAT
MORNING, AND AS A RESULT THE ONLY PLACE LEFT TO SIT WAS IN
THE FRONT PEW OF THE CHURCH. IT WAS A LOVELY SERVICE, A
BEAUTIFUL SERVICE, AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO SING THE LAST
HYMN, I STOOD AND I SANG WITH GUSTO. THE CHOIR IN THE
LAST VERSE OF THAT HYMN MOVED UP BEFORE ME TO PREPARE TO
SING THE BENEDICTION. AND IT WAS THEN THAT I STARTED TO
NOTICE SOME OF THE CHOIR MEMBERS MAKING HAND MOTIONS AT
ME. I WAS TERRIBLY CONFUSED UNTIL ONE OF THEM POINTED TO
MY FLOOR AND DOWN AROUND MY ANKLES WAS MY HOT PINK SKIRT.
[ laughter ] THERE I STOOD, IN MY HOT PINK JACKET AND MY
PANTY HOSE, IN THE FRONT ROW OF THE CHURCH ON A CROWDED EASTER
SUNDAY MORNING. I HAD BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT.
I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAILS. I WASN'T LOOKING
FORWARD OR MAKING ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGE. I WAS CAUGHT
WITH MY SKIRT DOWN. FRIENDS, DON'T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR
PANTS DOWN. WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THE NUMBER OF TIMES I
WOULD HAVE MINIMIZED STRESS AND ANXIETY BY BEING A LITTLE
BIT MORE FORWARD THINKING, PROACTIVELY ADJUSTING FOR
CHANGE, RATHER THAN JUST BASKING IN THE GOOD TIMES, MY WORKDAYS
AND MY WORK RELATIONSHIPS WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE
PLEASANT. IT TOOK A SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
LATE IN MY CAREER TOO DRILL THAT INTO MY HEAD. DON'T
GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN. AND REMEMBER, MAKE TIME YOUR
GREAT EQUALIZER. MAKE THE MOST OF CHALLENGING OPPORTUNITY.
CHANGE THE PERCEPTION THAT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE OF YOU BY
BEING VALUABLE, TOO VALUABLE TO LOSE. KEEP GROWING AND
LEARNING. LIKE IN 1976, I'M STILL GROWING UP. AND
FINALLY, GIVE BACK. PAY IT FORWARD. MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS
BY WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND
RELISH IN THAT FEELING. CLASS OF 2012, YOUR JOURNEY HAS
JUST BEGUN. ALL THE BEST TO YOU, AND THANK YOU. IT HAS
BEEN MY HONOR TO ADDRESS YOU. [ applause ]
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) THE UNIVERSITY CHOIR WILL NOW PRESENT ANOTHER
SELECTION FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT, CELEBRATION BY KOOL AND
THE GANG, ARRANGED BY RUSS SHIVELY.
[ applause ]
[ singing ] CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON! CELEBRATE GOOD
TIMES, COME ON! THERE'S A PARTY GOIN' ON RIGHT HERE A
CELEBRATION TO LAST THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, SO BRING YOUR GOOD
TIMES AND YOUR LAUGHTER TOO. WE GONNA CELEBRATE YOUR
PARTY WITH YOU. COME ON NOW. CELEBRATION. WE GONNA CELEBRATE
AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. CELEBRATION. WE GONNA CELEBRATE
AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. IT'S TIME TO COME TOGETHER.
IT'S UP TO YOU, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? EVERYONE AROUND
THE WORLD COME ON. CAL WHO? CAL U! CAL WHO? CAL U! IT'S A
CELEBRATION. CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON! IT'S A
CELEBRATION. CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON! LET'S
CELEBRATE.CELEBRATION. CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, DANCE TO THE
MUSIC. CELEBRATION. CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, DANCE TO THE
MUSIC. CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, DANCE TO THE MUSIC.
CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, DANCE TO THE MUSIC. CAL WHO? CAL
U! EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD COME ON. [ applause ]
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) PRESENTING THE CANDIDATES FROM THE COLLEGE
OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, AND BACHELOR
OF SOCIAL WORK IS DR. KEVIN KOURY, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE.
(KEVIN KOURY) THE CANDIDATES FROM THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
AND HUMAN SERVICES WILL RISE, PLEASE.
[ applause ] MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE
COMPLETED ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS, HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY
THE FACULTY AND ARE PRESENTED FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN EDUCATION.
RACHEL ELAINE ALBRIGHT, SHANNA R. ANICK,
GREGORY ARABIA, ROBERT T. BATEMAN II,
SARAH ELIZABETH BAUER,
ANDREW JAY BELL, SARA E. BENSON,
DAVID JEFFREY BERNER, CHRISTOPHER R. BETZA,
MONICA JEANETTE BODEN, ALISSA NICKESON BORSO,
MICHELLE RENEE BRADLEY, CAREY L. BROWN,
ASHLEE BRYNER, BRANDON CARNAHAN,
JESSICA BREANNE CASINI, JESSICA LYNNE CERVANTES,
EUGENIA CHIRINO, GABRIELLE CONNORS,
KARLENE MARIE CRIADO, JILL ALLISON D'AMICO,
LAMANDA DAVIES, ADRIENNE RENEE DAY,
NAKIA JA'REE DEBLANC-TOPPIN, JACQUELINE B. DEWITT,
NICOLE E. DEWITT, NICOLE LEE DICKINSON,
ANGELA ROSE DOYLE, STACEY MARIE FENNELL,
CAITLIN ELIZABETH FORD, DONALD HARLEN FUNK,
TAYLOR ROSE GARBER, HAYLEE JORDAN GARDNER,
CASSANDRA LYNN GARNER, CASEY FRANKLIN GILES,
ALEXIS GENTILE, AUSTIN M. GOOD,
KRYSTEN GUTHRIE, JESSICA LYNN HABICH,
AUTUMN LACOLE HAMMOND, EMILY M. HARTMAN,
GREGORY P. HAUSER, JR., HOLLY ELIZABETH HERBERTSON,
AMY ELIZABETH HIRSH, HANNAH KAITLYN HORRELL,
BRUCE L. HRACH, STEVEN J. HRVATIN,
JORDAN LORRAINE JACKSON, CHELSEA J. JACKSON,
ERIC KINCAID JAMES, ROBERT KIRKER,
JESSICA LEIGH KODRIC, LAUREN ELIZABETH KOTZ,
AMANDA KATHRYN KURTZ, KELSEY L. LANDY,
SAMANTHA J. LAYHUE, BRITTANY D. LEWIS,
ANTHONY J. MANNARINO, ARIELLE M. MARSHALL,
ANGELA MARIE MARUCA, JESSICA MASTERBRAY,
CHALEECE MARIE MCCRACKEN, SARA MARIE MCGRAW,
HOLLY L. MCKEAN, MELISSA DAWN MEANS,
AARON JEFFREY MILES, DENA M. MORNAK,
LAUREN ELIZABETH MURGEL, NICOLE MARIE PHILLIPS,
DIONNA POLITE, DANIELLE LYNN PROKOP,
CHELSIE CLARIE REBHOLZ, JACLYN MARIE RILEY,
KRISTY E. ROBERTSON, ANGEL-RENEE L. ROSE,
LAURA ALEXANDRA ROSKO, RACHEL D. SALVI,
NICHOLAS THOMAS SANDULLI, MEGAN MCKENZIE SAYLOR,
TAMARA SCHEUERMANN, MACI RENAE SEIBEL,
BRITTANY ANNE SHEETS, JESSICA ANN SHOW,
ERICA MARIE SHULTZ, EDWARD A. SHUTY, JR.,
AMANDA SIBENAC, JOSHUA ALAN SILVIS,
RICHARD M. SMOCHEK, MARISSA L. SPICUZZA,
COURTNEY ANNE STOFCHECK, MELISSA LYNNE STRAUB,
SARAH R. STRIGHT, COURTNEY LYNN STURM,
GREGORY MICHAEL VESHINFSKY, ALEXIS VRANESEVIC,
JESSICA LOUSIE WHITE, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS,
KRISTA CORRIN WINELAND, BRANDON MICHAEL WYVRATT,
KYLI JO YODERS, SAMANTHA JO YUHAS,
DENNIS ROY ZELLERS. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE
COMPLETED ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS, HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY
THE FACULTY AND ARE PRESENTED FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE.
REBECCA BRHETT BARNHART, JENNIFER ELIZABETH BAURLE,
CHRISTOPHER NICHOLAS BENNETT, VICTORIA CAROLINE BENNETT,
CRAIG D. BOSSE, TIFFANY A. BOSTIC,
KAYLA J. COLE, ZACHARY T. COWHER,
REBECCA ANN ESPEY, AMY ELIZABETH FAUTH,
JOCELYN FENYAR, KATHLEEN MARY FULFER,
RYAN ANDREW GRINDLE, PETER JAMES HACKENBRACK,
CHRISTOPHER GEORGE HAMBACH, PRISCILLA A. HARDENNE,
BRANDY D. HARRIS, ROBERT SHANNON HOUSTON III,
TAYLOR M. HOWRYLAK, ELIZABETH ANNE JOHNSTON,
REBECCA KUKLAR, ZACHARY KEITH MCCARTY,
RENEE L. MILCHECK, KATHERINE V. MOELLER,
MARISSA L. MORRIS, SHANE AARON PARSLEY,
JAMIE LYNN PHILLIPS, ALAN D. PORTER, JR.,
MILES CLARKE PORTER, SCOTT A. RECTENWALD,
SARAH E. REEB, JOSHUA ALLAN ROBERTSON,
MARK VINCENT SANDERS, JR., ASHLEY M. SCHLAG,
DAVID CHARLES SCHMIDT, SELINA MARIE SERVIDIO,
CATHERINE PATRICIA SHIMKO, STEPHEN JAMES SILVESTRI,
TIMOTHY ELLSWORTH SNAIR, JEFFREY N. STAGON,
LAMBERT R. STRAYER, JENNA MARIE SUDAR,
NICHOLAS THOMAS, BRITTNEY LEE TURLEY,
ELIZABETH CARA WAGNER, KARMIA J. WATTS,
AMBER NICOLE WILLIAMS, DIANNE LUKE JIA ZHEN.
PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF
THE REQUIREMENTS, HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FACULTY AND
ARE PRESENTED FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK.
AMANDA NICOLE BARBARICH, NATALIE M. CROUSHORE,
DEVIN EDWARD CHASE CUNNINGHAM, DIANE MARIE DIMOFF,
CRISTY M. GARCIA, ERICA LYNN KURUTZ,
FAITH L. LINGENFIELD, SUSAN MARIE PALKO,
LINDSEY J. PEDEN, LISA MARIE PHILLIPS,
IRIS MILAGRO RODRIGUEZ, SHIRLEY N. ZAZADO,
SEAN HUDSON.
MADAM PRESIDENT, SEVERAL CANDIDATES HAVE REQUESTED TO
GRADUATE IN ABSENTIA. PLEASE SEE THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM
FOR A LIST OF THEIR NAMES. THE CANDIDATES FROM THE
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES WILL BE SEATED,
PLEASE. [ applause ]
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) PRESENTING THE CANDIDATES FROM THE COLLEGE
OF LIBERAL ARTS FOR THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BACHELOR
OF FINE ARTS AND THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IS DR. MOHAMED
YAMBA, INTERIM DEAN OF THE COLLEGE.
(MOHAMED YAMBA) THE DEGREE CANDIDATES FROM THE COLLEGE OF
LIBERAL ARTS WILL RISE, PLEASE. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING
PERSONS HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE DEGREE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY
THE FACULTY AND ARE PRESENTED FOR THAT DEGREE.
JORDAN AGUDELO, JOSHUA ANDERSON,
JACLYN C. BILLY, JOSEPH LEE BROOKS II,
JOSEPH MICHAEL BUCCI, ASHLEY N. COFFEY,
SHANNON L. COLE, SYTINA SYMONNE DAVIS,
DON K. DOLAN, STEPHANIE L. FIKISZ,
SECOND LIEUTENANT DUSTIN RYAN FULLER, JUSTINE J. GRIFFITH,
JEFFREY J. HANEY, CHRIS J. HAYES,
SAMANTHA ANN MARIE HOLMES, STEPHEN MICHAEL JOHNSON,
STEVEN P. JONCAS II,
ERIC J. KUS II, DUSTIN A. LEONARD,
ANGELO JOHN MARTINO III, RHONDA ANN MCNAMARA,
SERGENT JARED M. MICHALSKY, LAUREN E. MURPHY,
ANDREA LYNNE PURCELL, SECOND LIEUTENANT DAVID M. SHORT,
CHAD WESLEY SMITH, STEPHANIE NICOLE SOYKA,
CORRE A. STRICKLER, JESSICA ANN THOMAS,
KIRILL TYULKOV, SAMANTHA L. VALITON,
STEPHEN VENTURA, DAVID R. VOSS, JR.,
ERIC JOHN WEINHEIMER, AMANDA L. WILLIAMS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING PERSON HAVE COMPLETED ALL
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS,
HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FACULTY, AND IS PRESENTED FOR
THAT DEGREE. JONATHYN M. SIMPSON.
PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE BACHELOR OF ARTS, HAVE BEEN
APPROVED BY THE FACULTY, AND ARE PRESENTED FOR THAT
DEGREE. BRIANNA LEE ACALOTTO,
ROBERT J. ALTRUDO, COURTNEY SAVANNA ANGERT,
JESSICA LYNNE APPEL, CAITLIN M. BICKEL,
MEGAN MARGARET BOWER, SAMANTHA BRIDGE,
GABRIELA BROVA, KATHRYN MARIE BRUNETTA,
MARK PATRICK BUDINSKY, LAUREN RENéE BURGESS,
NANCY A. CASCIATO, JORDAN LEE CERNALOGER,
FRANCIS CAMACHO CHARLES, BRITTANY CHIOVITTI,
CAMILLA MARIE CIONNI, SARA ELISABETH CORRY,
EVA SAVANNAH CRISWELL, NICOLE MARIE CUMBERLAND,
MATTHEW KENT DAYKA, CHAD JOSEPH DECHOWITZ,
ANGELA DAWN DEVENNEY, KRISTEN EMELIA DIETHORN,
ELISE ANN DURANKO, CASSIE M. EMERY,
GINA ELLEN BUSCEMI, MICHAEL FARINA,
LUKE A. GABIG, AMBER CHANEL GALLOWAY,
MEGHAN R. GAVIN, KELLY ELIZABETH GERAS,
ASHLEY JORDAN, GILL KATHRYN GLOVER,
KARYN A. HAKEEM, MICHAEL DEMARCO,
WALTER DANIEL HARRIS III, TRISHA N. HERRINGTON,
MATTHEW ALLEN-COREY HICKMOTT, JASON L. HINES,
ZACKARY E. HOUGH, PATRICK ANDREW JOHNS,
MICHAEL WILLIAM JURICICH, ANGELA PATRICELLI KERN,
ADAM MARK LABUDA, AMBER LYNN LAWRENCE,
JENNIFER L. LEWELLEN, ANDREW J. LIPNICKY,
KIRA M. LOPRESTO, CAROL MANNIX,
ROSS MARTIN, ANNE B. MARTUCCI,
BECKY IRENE MCKEEL, ALICIA ANN MORRIS,
FILLIP AMERE NELSON, KEVIN MICHAEL NEWLIN,
AARON PETROSKY, ALISSA ASHLEY PRESTON,
KRISTI M. PROSSER, BRIDGET ANN ROGAN,
ALEXANDRIA LEE SABATINI, DANIEL J. SCARMAZZI,
RAELENE M. SHERIDAN, EDWARD A. SHUTY, JR.,
SAMUEL P. SILVA, ZACHARY JAMES SMITH,
ASHLEE N. STEGER, ALLISON N. STEINHEISER,
LAUREL M. TOKARCZYK, RACHAL M. TRICE,
BRANDY ANGELA TUTAY, NATHAN T. WILDER,
LINDSAY GRACE WOODFORD, LATASHIA WOODS,
JESSICA MARIE ZOMBEK. PRESIDENT, SEVERAL CANDIDATES HAVE REQUESTED
TO GRADUATE IN ABSENTIA. PLEASE SEE THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM
FOR A LIST OF THEIR NAMES.
[ applause ]
THE DEGREE CANDIDATES FROM THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
WILL BE SEATED, PLEASE. [ applause ]
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) PRESENTING THE CANDIDATES FROM THE EBERLY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DEGREES OF
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BACHELOR OF ARTS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN NURSING, ASSOCIATE OF ARTS, AND THE ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
IS DR. JOHN KALLIS, INTERIM DEAN OF THE COLLEGE.
(DR. JOHN R. KALLIS) BACHELORS DEGREE CANDIDATES FROM THE EBERLY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND ALL ASSOCIATE DEGREE
CANDIDATES WILL RISE, PLEASE.
[ applause ] MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVE
COMPLETED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE, HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FACULTY, AND ARE PRESENTED
FOR THAT DEGREE.
BRADLEY JAMES ACCIPITER, LISA E. ALTHOFF,
AMIRA ABDEL KREEM BADRAN, NICHOLAS CHARLES BAYER,
ROBERT JOSEPH BOOTH, JR., ANTHONY IVAN BRONZINI,
ANDREW LORENCE BROWN, CHERIE RENEE BROWN,
JILLIAN MICHELE CAMPAYNO, WAUGH AARON CARTER,
BRUNA MORAES DE CARVALHO, DAWN R. CERRETA,
SARA NICOLE CHILLEO, STACY A. CHMIELEWSKI,
TIMOTHY LEE COX, JR., HALIE JORDAN CROW,
HUGH JOHN DELANEY, CHRISTINA LEE DESANTIS,
STEVAN JARON DOWNS, MELANIE JANE DUNCAN,
DAVID JOSEPH FISCHER, SARAH CHRISTINE FISCHER,
DANIEL SHAWN FOYLE, RACHEL C. FREE,
CODY DOUGLAS FRICK,
STEVEN MICHAEL FULLER, ANDREW ALEXANDER FUOCO,
MEGAN ELIZABETH GARDNER, ERIN NICOLE GRAHAM,
JENNIFER RENEE GRAYSON, JOSEPH GRUNEBACH,
JOHN E. HAIR, JR., NATHAN RYAN HARTMAN,
MANOLO ANDRES HERNANDEZ PROCKO, BEATA MARIA HEROLD,
AMBER LACRISHA HILL, ERICKA MAREE HINES,
TERI GLENN HOLCOMBE, JR., KELLY MARIE HORRELL,
LINDSAY ANNE HOWARD, ASHLEY MARIE ISIMINGER,
DONALD WESLEY JELLISON, JR., JONATHAN R. JOHN,
DAVID DANIEL JOHNSON, ZACHARY MICHAEL JONES,
TANYA CAREY KEMP, CORY F. KIRKPATRICK,
JUSTIN M. KOHLER, JUSTIN E. KRAPPWEIS,
JESSICA LYNN KRIEGER, PAUL ROBERT KUNSA,
ROBERT STEVEN KURTZ, MARCUS ANDREW LAMBERT,
CAROL LANDKROHN, LEAH LANDKROHN,
JACOB PAUL LASKODY, JUSTIN LEE LITTEN,
ALEXANDER GEORGE LUCKASEVIC III, CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL MANG,
ELIZABETH JANE MARUSKIN, BRIAN JOSEPH MAYER,
JULIA ANN MCAULEY, MICHAEL A. MEDVED,
BLAIR FRANKLIN MESSINGER, JOSHUA THOMAS MILLER,
KATLYN MARIE MINOR, CARLA SINCERA MUBANGA,
LAURA MAE NATALE, BRYAN CODY NICHOLSON,
JAMES ANTHONY NIEDER, CRAIG JOSEPH NOVAK,
CARRIE ANN NOVOTNAK, SARAH JEAN OELER,
ERICA NICOLE OSTRANDER,
EDWARD STUART PARQUETTE, EMILY M. PESKIE,
ALEXANDRIA RITA POPE, ROBERT ANTHONY RAIMONDI,
THOMAS J. RATES, HANNAH RENEE ROBERTS,
LEAH ROSSI, ABBEY NOELLE RUGOLA,
STEPHEN J. SICKORA, ERIC ANTHONY SIMON,
ANGELICA NOELLE SMITH, ALICIA MARIE SOTO,
KRYSTAL L. STEPIEN, KAITLIN MICHELLE THOMAS,
EMILY NICOLE TIMKO, CARRIE MICHELLE VALLOR,
JESSICA MARIE VAUGHN, DILLON M. VOSS,
TIMOTHY MICHAEL VRABEL, MATTHEW N. VULCANO,
RYAN MICHAEL WAGNER, KYLIE ALYSSE WALLACH,
ALYSE MONIQUE WASHINGTON, ASHLEY NICHOLE WASHINGTON,
RYAN ELISE WEAVER, BENJAMIN JAMES WEST,
CAITLIN AMANDA WHITE, MICHELE ELIZABETH WHITMER,
RYAN J. WOJCIECHOWSKI, SAMUEL MICHAEL ZEHEL,
MATTHEW RYAN ZITTERBART. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOW PERSONS HAVE COMPLETED
ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE BACHELOR OF ARTS,
HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FACULTY AND ARE PRESENTED
FOR THAT DEGREE. DANAE ALAENTSIC BLAZE,
SHANE ANTHONY BOND, JESSICA LYNN BORING,
KATELYN ELIZABETH DICENZO, GRANT WILLIAM EATON,
SAMUEL LEE GATEN, JON MAITLAND HOUCK,
MARC ANTHONY ISON, TALOR LAYNE KAPELEWSKI,
DEVIN ALBERT MCCUSKER, ROBERT LEROY RUEDIGER, JR.,
GARRETT GUSTAVE SCHMIDT, ALEXANDRA NICOLE WASKO,
BRANDON EARL ZIMMER.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOW PERSONS HAVE COMPLETED ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
NURSING, HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FACULTY, AND ARE
PRESENTED FOR THAT DEGREE. DARIJA ROSE DAVIDSON,
ANDREA LYNN DAVIS, KRISTEN LEIGH FLEMING,
MARY C. LENTZ, BARBARA JEAN MCGILL,
ROBIN MARIE MEYER-WYTIAZ, TERI LYNN MICHEL,
DANA Y. MONTGOMERY, JESSICA LYNN NAGY,
PATRICIA J. NELSON, ADRIANNE MARIE PAVLICK-MILLER,
HEATHER LYNNE RACK, KELLY LYNN RAMSEY,
SARAH ANNE RUMMEL, SARAH ELIZABETH SLUGANSKI,
CHRISTY LYNN SMITH, PAULA J. WESTON,
ERIN ELIZABETH WROBLEWSKI. MADAM PRESIDENT, THE FOLLOW PERSONS HAVE COMPLETED
ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES ASSOCIATE OF
SCIENCE AND ASSOCIATE OF ARTS AND HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY
THE FACULTY AND ARE PRESENTED FOR THOSE DEGREES.
RYAN T. MADDEN RONALD ELLIS TAYLOR, JR.
MADAM PRESIDENT, SEVERAL CANDIDATES HAVE ASKED TO GRADUATE
IN ABSENTIA. PLEASE CHECK THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM FOR A
LIST OF THEIR NAMES. THE CANDIDATES FROM THE EBERLY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND ALL ASSOCIATE DEGREE
CANDIDATES WILL BE SEATED, PLEASE.
(GERALDINE JONES) WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BACHELOR
OF SOCIAL WORK, BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS, BACHELOR OF ARTS,
AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING RISE, PLEASE.
[ applause ]
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) MADAM PRESIDENT, THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED TO YOU HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE FACULTY AND
THE RESPECTIVE DEANS AS HAVING FULFILLED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION,
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK, BACHELOR
OF FINE ARTS, BACHELOR OF ARTS, AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN NURSING. I RECOMMEND THAT THE DEGREES BE CONFERRED.
(GERALDINE JONES) BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS OF THE
PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, I HEREBY
CONFER THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION,
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK, BACHELOR OF
FINE ARTS, BACHELOR OF ARTS, AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
NURSING WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, HONORS AND PRIVILEGES WHICH
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD PERTAIN TO THAT DEGREE. YOU MAY MOVE
YOUR TASSELS. [ applause ]
BACHELOR'S GRADUATES, BE SEATED, PLEASE. WILL THE
CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREES OF ASSOCIATE OF ARTS AND
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE RISE, PLEASE.
(DR. BRUCE BARNHART) MR. PRESIDENT, THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED TO YOU, HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE FACULTY AND
THE RESPECTIVE DEANS AS HAVING FULFILLED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREES OF ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE, ASSOCIATE
OF ARTS AND ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREES. I RECOMMEND
THAT THE DEGREES BE CONFERRED.
(GERALDINE JONES) BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION,
I HEREBY CONFER THE DEGREES OF ASSOCIATE OF ARTS AND
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE WITH ALL THE RIGHTS, HONORS AND PRIVILEGES
WHICH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD PERTAIN TO THAT DEGREE.
ASSOCIATE DEGREE CANDIDATES -- GRADUATES, BE SEATED
PLEASE. [ applause ]
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS, WHO
ARE WITH US TODAY, WHO RECEIVED DUAL DEGREES, AND PLEASE
STAND WHEN YOUR NAME IS ANNOUNCED. CAITLIN ELIZABETH
FORD, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, SOCIAL STUDIES,
BACHELOR OF ARTS, HISTORY. CODY DOUGLAS FRICK, BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE, EARTH SCIENCE, BACHELOR OR ARTS, MATHEMATICS.
NATHAN RYAN HARTMAN, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE GEOLOGY, BACHELOR
OF ARTS GEOGRAPHY. JUSTIN LEE LITTEN, BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE, BACHELOR OF ARTS POLITICAL
SCIENCE. ZACHARY KEITH MCCARTY, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE,
GENERAL EDUCATION, ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE, INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY. RHONDA ANN MCNAMARA, BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE, JUSTICE STUDIES; BACHELOR OF ARTS PSYCHOLOGY.
BLAIR FRANKLIN MESSINGER, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
MANAGEMENT, ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE, COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN
DRAFTING. KEVIN MICHAEL NEWLIN, BACHELOR OF ARTS
COMMUNICATION STUDIES, BACHELOR OF ARTS GEOGRAPHY. EDWARD
A. SHUTY, JR., BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, SOCIAL
STUDIES; BACHELOR OF ARTS HISTORY. ASHLEE STEGER,
BACHELOR OF ARTS ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE, RECEIVING ALSO
TODAY FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGE FROM ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
KAITLIN MICHELLE THOMAS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE GEOLOGY.
JESSICA LOUISE WHITE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION,
MATHEMATICS, BACHELOR OF ARTS MATHEMATICS. DENNIS ROY
ZELLERS II , BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, HISTORY,
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, HISTORY. THANK YOU. [ applause ]
I AM ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FOLLOWING GRADUATES
WERE COMMISSIONED JUST YESTERDAY AS SECOND LIEUTENANT IN
THE UNITED STATES ARMY. [ applause ]
SECOND LIEUTENANT DUSTIN FULLER AND LIEUTENANT BRITTANY
HALL. CONGRATULATIONS. [ applause ]
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ONE OF OUR GRADUATES.
TECH SERGEANT CRAIG BOSSE, WHO RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE DEGREE IN SPORT MANAGEMENT WELLNESS AND FITNESS,
AND WHO IS IN THE MILITARY AND WHO TRAVELED FROM SEOUL,
KOREA, TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY. [ applause ]
CRAIG, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND BE
SAFE. [ applause ]
TO ALL OUR GRADUATES CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE OUR VERY
BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL FUTURE. BE SAFE AND TAKE
CARE, AND VISIT OFTEN. IN CONCLUSION, WE WILL NOW SING
THE FIRST VERSE OF THE ALMA MATER, AFTER WHICH REVEREND
QUISENBERRY WILL PRESENT THE BENEDICTION. I WILL ASK THE
AUDIENCE REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS FOLLOWING THE BENEDICTION
AND UNTIL THE END OF THE PLATFORM PARTY AND THE
RECESSIONAL. WE UNDERSTAND THE GRADUATES WANT TO MEET
THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THIS ARENA, SO THEY WILL NOT
NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RECESSIONAL. THANK YOU.
TRAVEL SAFE.
[ all singing ] CALIFORNIA, ALMA MATER, NOW WE SING TO THEE,
CALIFORNIA, DEAR FOREVER, IN OUR MEMORY. WITH OUR VOICES
LOUDLY RINGING, OF THY FAME WE'RE EVER SINGING.
CALIFORNIA, ALMA MATER; HAIL! ALL HAIL TO THEE.
(JANA QUIESENBERRY) MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND IN GRATEFUL
RESPONSE MAY YOU LOVE WITH PASSIONATE ACTION, CONTINUE
TO PURSUE BOTH KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM, AND LIVE LIVES
OF EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE SO THAT PEACE MAY BE YOUR CONSTANT
COMPANION AND JOY YOUR LIFE'S SONG. AMEN.
