2002 Winter Commencement Video, College of Graduate Education and Research, College of Fine Arts and Communication, College of Health Professions, and College of Education

Pick me up, love, pick me up from the bottom up onto the top, love, every day. Pay no mind to taunts or advances, I take my chances on every day. Left to right, up and down, love, push up love, love, every day.

Jump in the mud, get your hands dirty with love it up, oh, every day. All you need is, all you want is, all you need is love. All you need is, what you want is, all you need is love. Every day, every day, oh, every day.

Oh take me up, love, from the bottom up onto the top, every day. Pay no mind to taunts or advances. I'm gonna take my chances on every day. Left to right, up and up and inside out.

Right. Good love. Fight for everything. Jump in the mud,

mud. Get your hands filthy, love. Give it up. Love, every day.

All you need is, all you want is, all you need is love.

all you need is, what you want is, all you need is love. What you've got, lay it down on me, what you've got, lay it down on me. All you need is, all you want is, all you need is love.

All you need is, what you want is, all you need is love. (music) Good afternoon and welcome to Towson University.

Mr. President, the university community is assembled for Commencement. Good afternoon and welcome to Towson University's 137th

Commencement exercise. Today we celebrate this university's top priority, the academic achievement of our students. Would you please stand enjoying the singing our National Anthem,

which will be led in singing by Anna Marie Sell, a graduating Theatre and English major. At the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched, were so

gallantly streaming. And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air. Please be seated. The flags on display in the auditorium represent the 97

countries of students enrolled at Towson University. They're a testament to the idea that an education at Towson University not only reaches across the great state of Maryland and of course our nation, but also around the

world. As I travel in the higher education circles and talk to people in our community, I'm OFT times asked about the education experience at our university.

When I turn on my television set and I watch the Talking Heads, I get the picture of adults telling us all the time with education and learning is about. And I found it interesting that rarely does anyone ever speak to

anyone about what the students have to say about it themselves. This fall at Towson University, we began talking to some of the students and we asked them to share with us their thinking about the Towson learning experience.

I'd like to share with you what some of those students had to say. Elizabeth Van Arsdale, majoring in music from Stewartstown, PA, had the most to say about the Towson experience.

She says, quote my freshman year. It was a time of tough transitions. From leaving my parents to leaving my high school social life.

I was thrown into a new life. At first I distanced myself, but shortly after, I realized that the only way to make my time here worthwhile was to get involved.

Rachel Hubbard of Frederick, MD, majoring in speech pathology, described her Towson experience as quote, meeting friends, becoming independent, living on my own, finding my destiny and working toward goals.

Jonathan Payne, a student from Rockville majoring in business administration, wrote Growth as a leader, strong development and discovery of my values and ideas, and the opportunity to meet new people and work as a team.

Listen to the words of Sean Petty, a student from Baltimore and International Studies. I've received a quality education at Towson. The school prepares students for a professional lifestyle.

When you leave Towson, you've not only acquired book knowledge, but also knowledge for life. I hope you will take out into the world with you parents and guests the words of the student who had the experience here.

You know, I've only been to Towson University for about 6 months as the 11th president, but what I have found is that this is not a new kind of learning experience. In fact, it's been fascinating to me that our founding

principal, Alexander Mcfad Newell in 1866 understood at that time the totality of the learning experience. As a university, we are grounded in the idea that learning, in the development of the whole person is very important.

I'd like to share some words from our university history with you about that. And I quote from an early writer at the institution. It was recognized from the start that all intellectual and social

expansion does not take place within the classroom, that personality unfolds in many ways, and that the process of learning is more than just a student teacher relationship. You see, when those students write, they talk about the

growth that they experience as a person. They didn't tell us about the great math class they had, although we know we have them, or the wonderful music experience they had, all the wonderful time they had in the

arts, or the opportunity they had to look at the globe in the world history in different ways. They find expression for all of those educational experiences and how they've grown as individuals and citizens.

We understand the relationship between the environment and the nature and the quality of the learning experience. It is our legacy as a university. It is who we are and we are proud of it.

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Dominic Lapazzino, a member of the University Board of Visitors, who will bring greetings on behalf of the Board.

Thank you Doctor Perkins. The Presidential Board of Visitors is comprised of executives from both public and private sectors who serve in an advisory capacity to Doctor Perkins and his leadership team.

And some of the board members are Towson alumni and some are not. Some contribute their wealth and others contribute their wealth of knowledge or talent OR advocacy, but they all share a

singular commitment and affection for this university. And on behalf of the Board of Visitors, let me say it is a privilege to welcome Doctor Perkins to Towson. We are cheering him on and we look forward to working with him

as he takes over the stewardship of this outstanding university. I also bring greetings from the board to you, the graduates of Towson University. Whatever your future holds, a profession, more schooling, or

just some time to kick back and explore the possibilities, I hope you'll measure your success not by the income you make, but by the impact you made. Don't just make a living, make a difference.

When attempting something new. Expect a learning curve. Anything worth doing is even worth doing poorly at first. Now each of you is going to leave here today with one unique

thing that no one else has. Hundreds of people out there have your same degree. Thousands are already doing what you want to do for a living. But you are the only person alive who has soul guardianship

of your life, your particular life, your individual life, not just your life at a desk or at a computer. What's your personal life? The life of your heart, the life of your soul.

So here's what I'd like to leave you with today. Care enough. Care enough to have a real life, not a frantic race for the next promotion, the bigger car, or the prestigious zip code in

light of the tragic events of September 11th. So you think you'd really care about any of those things if you lost a loved one? Care enough to take notice of the smell of salt water adding

on the beach down the ocean, Hun? Care enough to take the time to watch a seagull circle over, then land and Peck for a treasure in the sand. Care enough to fill your life with people you love and care

for and who love and care for you. Recognize that love is not easy. You got to work at it. Pick up the phone and call mom.

Send an e-mail to a friend. Write a letter to your dad. Hang out with your brothers and sisters or a grandparent. It won't kill you and it will make their day.

Recognize that life is the best thing ever, the only thing. You only have no business taking it for granted. Realize that it's relatively short. You only get one and know that today's the only guarantee

you're going to get. All of us want to do well, but if we don't do good as well, if we don't care, then doing well will never be enough. Because it's so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours.

It's so easy to take for granted the color of our kids eyes, the way the melody in the song makes us hum. So care enough to live instead of exist. To love the journey on your way to that destination and care

enough to look at all the good in the world and try to give some back. Care enough to give someone a hug. Now don't think for a second that you're learning ends today,

at this commencement. It's just beginning. Finally, remember that even with a new academic degree and a Towson diploma that carries your name, no one will care how much

you know until they know how much you care. Congratulations. Thank you, Mr. Lapinazina, for those very powerful words.

We're also fortunate to have with us the president of Towson's Alumni Board, Mr. Brian Thaler, who will bring words of welcome from the Alumni Association.

Members of the Class of 2001, I bring you greetings on behalf of the more than 88,000 alumni who have preceded you. Perhaps more than any other group, the alumni are uniquely able to understand and appreciate this moment.

You have completed years of hard work, dedication, and intellectual rigor, as well as the equally arduous challenges of registering for the right classes and of course, finding a parking place.

We salute you for your perseverance in all of these undertakings. As alumni, we are enriched by each other's achievements and by Towson's.

We are a family. You can count on us and we will count on you. You are now officially a member of the Towson University Alumni Association.

We encourage you to come back and share your successes with us. You have a new and important role, which is to help us make Towson an even stronger and more rat Rat, nationally recognized

university. Congratulations. Thank you. You know, I've, I've only been in the Baltimore area for about

6 months, but one of the things that I've been struck by, everywhere I go, whatever restaurant I'm in, whatever meeting I go to, I meet someone who is either an alumnus of this university or whose mother went to this university or whose

brother or whose cousin has gone to this university. I'd like to get a sense if you'd help me audience with a little demonstration of how broad the Towson University family is. So now listen real carefully, with the exception of today's

graduates, if any of you have faculty and staff and in the audience have someone in your family, a brother, a sister, an uncle, or they're married to someone that graduated from Towson University, would you please stand for me?

Now, if you've got a relative that's a graduate of Towson University, other than these graduates and graduates, you can stand up. If you've got another relative, could you all get up?

There we go. If you'll take a look around, you'll see that the Towson family is everywhere. It's kind of fun to see where it all goes and you do something

like that. It's risky business, you know. It's now my pleasure to introduce Chad Petrie, who's graduating with a mass communication and communication

studies political science double major. He was on the Dean's list for six semesters. Mr. Petrie was also a member of the Speech and Debate Club and was

president of the Richmond Hall Building Council. He works at WCBM Talk Radio in Baltimore and plans plans a career in broadcasting. Please join me in welcoming Mr.

Patriot to the podium. Thank you, Doctor Leather, President Perkins, Doctor Moskos, honored faculty, guests, family and friends going through grade school.

I was very fortunate. You see, my brother Kirk and I were in the same grade and thus in most of the same classes for 12 years. If I missed an assignment, Kirk could tell me what the homework

was. If I dozed off during note taking, Kirk was there to help me fill in the blanks. Then college came around.

He was going to UMBC and Ida Towson. For the first time, I wouldn't have a safety net to fall back on. I'd actually have to pay attention.

At this point, I thought, I'm doomed. I'm dead. The pool's filling with water and I'm I'm about to sink. How could I possibly survive?

What I needed was experience. Experience at self-sufficiency. Going to school at Towson is that experience. We learn the necessary skills for a craft like broadcasting,

filmmaking or teaching. We gain the ability to perform our respective major on our own. We come to this place with an ideal in our minds. Some of us have the ideal of becoming a teacher.

They've always wanted to teach, so that's what they're going to do. Others enter with the ideal of just trying a little bit of everything a person could be.

An advertising major one semester, philosophy major the next, and graduate with ABA in art history. I came here with a dream of becoming a radio broadcaster. My idealism guided me towards this goal.

Now I needed the skill and experience to achieve it. As a freshman, I hardly knew the difference between a microphone and a telephone. But as I went from production courses to theory studies of

broadcasting, I slowly began to grasp the concepts laid out before me. Our idealism leads us to decision making. We have to decide if we like our major.

Is this what we want to do with the rest of our lives? If not, Towson gives us plenty of other options to choose from. Our experience must guide us to that which makes us happy, productive people.

Last year I made the decision to take what I had learned here and get an internship and radio. I landed one at a talk radio station called WCBM, which eventually led to the job I have as a producer there now.

I was working in double shift on the morning of the American Airlines flight crashed in November. Breaking news flowed nonstop over the CBS News wire, and it was my job to determine whether or not our station should cover

certain breaking news at that time. Finally, I had to put Doctor Turner and Doctor Vatz's lectures on new selection into practice. It was the responsibility of making decisions that affected a

community broadcast. I was on my own with no little brother to help me out. I had to learn to trust my judgement. Should I go to the news conference with Mayor Giuliani

or the NTSB and will anybody care? Having the ability to make judgement calls in our fields comes from the confidence we received in the education here at Towson.

First we were novices at our respective fields. Now many of us are making decisions which affect the curriculum of school children to the content of a short subject film.

I know I'm certainly not a professional, I know Dan Rather, but I'd like to think through the experience gained here at Towson. I've at least achieved the rank of a Carrot Top with our

experience and skill. Many of us are leaving here today to follow that idealistic dream of being a teacher or artist or broadcaster. Our learning doesn't stop here.

We must continue our quest for our craft. Some of us are leaving here to further education and graduate schools, while many are headed to take on the future. Right now, one of my least favorite concepts in graduation

speeches is the idea that when we finish school, the future is just ours for the taking. I always found this idea a little misleading. It's not like there's a room full of company directors

sitting down and saying, gentlemen, there's a new batch of incoming college graduates on their way. Some of you are going to have to retire or quit in order to make room for them.

No, we must now earn our place in the future, and we can do it with the knowledge and experience gained here at Towson. You can show potential employers and bosses that you have

something special to offer. As you walk out that door, remember you are a teacher, you are a director, you are a philosopher. You are whatever your heart's passion is.

With the help of your family, friends, and professors, you can be the best one in the world. I'd like to thank the faculty of Towson for giving me the opportunity to speak with you today.

I'd like to thank my family, my friends, especially my brother Kirk, for helping me and supporting me through the years. Fellow 2001 graduates, we will earn the future with our experience.

Thanks, and God Bless America. Thank you, Mr. Petri. And no, you're not a carrot type.

I don't think this is one of the happiest days of the year on our campus as we celebrate the graduates of whom we're all so proud. But you know, graduates, I know that there are many who have

shared in your journey and in your accomplishments and the excitement of this moment. There is, of course, one very special group whose contributions deserve a particular recognition.

We have the finest graduating class in Maryland because we have the finest faculty here at Towson University. Will the faculty of the University rise to receive the recognition of our graduates?

Merita faculty as well? Please join me, graduates now. Joining me on stage today in the front row are leaders of the University.

Through their dedication and expertise enable the success of our students. On the 1st row are the offices of the University, those responsible facilitating our academic programs, members of

the Board of Visitors, University Senate, Alumni Association, Student Government Association, the American Association of University Professors. Well, our colleagues, please rise so that we make sure our

appreciation for your leadership. Now there are other special people who have touched your life as you have journeyed to this moment. What I would like to have this moment is I'd like the mothers

and fathers of all of our graduates to please rise and remain standing. If you would get up, please, mothers and fathers, hold your applause, please.

How about the grandparents and grandchildren of the graduates? Would you also rise and please remain standing? How about the spouses and sons and daughters of the graduates? Would you rise and please remain standing?

Now we've got aunts and uncles and all the others who have helped make this day possible and who are here to share in this very special occasion. Would you please stand, graduates?

Would you rise, turn and salute these people that have helped you in this journey? Thank you. You may be seated, you know.

Before the most important part of the ceremony begins, I have an announcement concerning photographs. A professional photographer will take pictures of your favorite graduate as they are greeted on stage.

Photo opportunities for family and friends will be available later. And if you could limit your applause and shots for your graduate out of respect for the graduate immediately following

yours, it would be deeply appreciated. Associate Provost Deborah Leather will join me for the conferring of degrees. Assisting us in awarding degrees will be Dean's doctor Charlotte

Echner, Dr. Dennis Hinkle, Doctor Marvin Losche, Dr. Jen Gong and Doctor Howard Nixon. Will the candidates for master's degrees please stand?

Mr. President? Madam Associate Provost, Mr. President, on recommendation of the faculty, I have the honor to

present those students who will meet the requirements for the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Arts and Teaching, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Education, Master of Music, or Master of Science.

I am pleased to receive these candidates for graduate degrees. You have shown your determination to develop your talents and sharpen your skills. Yours is now the responsibility to apply these capabilities in

the service of humanity. By the authority vested to me by the Board of Regents in the State of Maryland, I confer upon you the recommended degree with all the rights, responsibilities, honors and

privileges thereunto. Pertaining congratulations. Will the Master's degree recipients please proceed to the stage?

I'm Doctor Lawrence Shirley, the associate Dean of the College of Graduate Education and Research. On the far end of the stage is Doctor Jin Gong, the Dean of the College of Graduate Education and Research.

He and I and all of the Graduate College wish. Congratulations to all of the graduates today. Laurie Deprine College. Karen, Mary Casazza, Joaqua.

Young Famiwa. Kitamura, Christopher. Duke Lines Kimberly Anne Nicholson, Denning Christine Siebert Noise Suzanne Seibert Rising Andrea Yvette Bundy,

Latasha K Jefferson, Lauren Heather Kander, Eileen Mary Madison, Alyssa A Neville, Sharon A Quinn, Mary Ellen. Ward, Madeline Ruth Bowman, Simon, Elizabeth Byrd, Ivy. Fondy.

Chan, Colleen. Chevro Allison, Stacy. Cohen, Catherine A Cusick, Cheryl Marie Dieter, Carmela Del Vecchio, Tricia T Diaz, Laura and Drum, Leticia Tavana Gore,

Siobhan, Michelle Gore, Christina. Graham, Tokina Tokinka, Cheryl. Henry. Sorry.

Rachel A Harris, Don M Holloway, Sherry Makia Hunter, Mary Pat Joyce, Renee and Kemler, Kelly Nips Napinski Kapinski, Kimberly Anne Lundell, Jennifer Irene McCarthy, Jenna Ryder McCann Mccran, Julie Marie Norton, Teresa Zeigenfuse.

O'Brien, Agnes Marie Riley Long T Shanklin, Jamie Christina Waxler, Carrie Michelle Windsor, Andrew Antonio Wright, Tamara Nicole Joyner, Kelly Nevin Limbach, Ruby Faye Martin, Darlene Marie Miller, Mary Gladys Unglesby, Jeremy Emerson

Bear, Janine Michelle Brainer, Lydia Ruprecht, Bula Vinitas, Jennifer Rebecca Hetzer, Amy Rebecca Krivald, Amy Elisa Lawrence, Donald Edward Michael Carol Muller Congratulations. Victoria Ann Peito, Karen Rand, Jennifer Lynn, Vice Larisha

Zelinda Bagley, Amy Michelle Malinowski and Marie Martinelli. Esther Jacqueline Millison, Lisa Mooser Moore, Wanda S Perez, Dorothy Summers, Saba Vanessa Mary Sampson, Margaret Roseanne Stamper, Stephanie Lynn Zadevsky, Kimberly Diane

Arsenault, Tracy L Clark. Carrie, Anne Damore, Dorothy Jean. Newcomer Dorothy A Areda Areda, Erin Shannon Brady, Lorena and Clary, Michelle Sarah Dudas, Darlene Louise Dougas, Amy

Suzanne Fox, Shannon Lee Fuller, Mildred. Brooks Guild, Florence Louise Kennedy Stack, Deborah Pauline Leach, Elizabeth Ann Milbourne, Stacy Renee Pere, Jodie Ellen Hostel, Robin Lee Reed, Robin.

Rook, Jane, Anne Vanco, Doug Richard Brown, Jennifer SER Hood, David Edward Hughes, Jennifer Lynn. Timer Jacqueline Williams will the candidates for bachelor's degrees please stand?

A very richly deserved applause. Students receiving Latin honors will be announced as their names are called. To receive a degree with honors, students must have completed 60

credits of undergraduate work at Towson University and achieve the appropriate quality point average for cum laude, 3.4 to 3.54, for Magnum cum Laude, 3.55 to 3.74, and for Suma cum Laude, the highest honor, 3.75 to Four Point O Graduates are listed

alphabetically by college and department in your program. Mr. President. Madam Associate Provost, Mr.

President, on recommendation of the faculty, I have the honor of presenting to you those students who will meet all the requirements for the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Science.

I am pleased to receive these candidates by the authority vested in me by the Board of Regents in the State of Maryland. I confer upon you the recommended degree with all

responsibilities, honest rights and privileges thereunto pertaining as a symbol of your new status. Please now move the mortar boy tassel from the right to the left.

Congratulations, graduates. Please be seated. Graduates, you will follow the directions of the Student Faculty Marshals.

Once on stage, you will shake the President's hand, proceed across the stage to receive congratulations from the Dean of your college, and then return to your seat. I'm Doctor Charles Flippin, associate Dean of the College of

Fine Arts and communication. At the far right on our stage is Dean Marvin Lesky, Dean of our college, who will be greeting graduates. On behalf of myself, Dean Lesky, and our college, let me add my

congratulations to those already expressed today. Chad Anthony Petrie, summa cum laude Honors College. Anna Marie Cell Suna, summa cum laude Honors College. Cynthia and Powell, summa cum laude.

Andrew G Brooks, Rachel Carmen Bejas, Robin Joy Katzfa, Noah Canopas, cum laude. Jennifer Lynn Correa, cum laude. Jason James Ferguson, cum laude.

Raylon Lee Forest, Melinda Anne Foss, Magna cum laude. Rosa Lee and Frank cum laude. Michael Francis Fry, Brendan Lewis Gordy, Melinda Hamilton, Magna cum laude.

Christopher Thomas Henry, cum laude. Donnella Henson, Karen Agnes Jothin, Adam Eric, Carolina Owen Staley Linton, Jeff James Malone, Brad Michael Mosher, Mariko Nagaba, Magna cum Laude.

Megan Christina Nagel, Matthew Lee Patek, Brian William Polesky, Matthew. Todd Peluso, Jennifer Lynn Rohrbach cum Laude Daoud Bin Sayed Salaam Joseph Charles Supic, Natalie Andrea Terry,

Lauren McLeod Townsend, Brina and Ward, Tammy Michelle Kaiser, Timothy McHugh, Mayor Lynn GAIL Paust. Excuse Me, Lisa GAIL Paust, Derek Lamont Pope, Paula Vichery, They St.

Sarah Jaray Few cum Laude. Melissa Kathleen Bartlinsky, Jennifer Jane Brunner, David William Clark. Congratulations, Jason Michael Gross cum laude Angela Nicole

Guido Shakar Kafka cum laude. Angela Michelle Meyer, Cynthia Louise Moyane, Keith Richter, Daniel Joseph Shine, Matthew Corey Stevenson, Heather Natalie Zucker, Nadia Francois Albacry Magna cum Laude.

Jennifer Bridget Arenas, Saya. Sinica, Benson, Donovan, Keith. Bentley, Seth. Lewis, Bond, Janine.

Borandy, Colin Patrick. Carew, Pamela. Susan Cornell Lavinia Kim Crawford Lewis Mark Aaron Krauss, James John de Anuncio, Diana Lauren Edelman,

Christopher Paul Edwards, Kimberly and Fisher, Timothy George Forrester, Kelly Lynn Glorioso Summa cum Laude Honors College, Amy and Getz, Christy Lynn Gracie, Mandy Nicole Green cum Laude.

Susan Nicole Hagen, Drew S Harris, Jeffrey Mark Harrison, Sarah Elizabeth Hemings Summa cum Laude. Stephen Michael Henneman, Stephanie Tara Hittle, Jennifer and Hoke, Christina Louise Johndrow Turlease, Petra Johns

Magna cum Laude. Kristen Marie Karis, Julia Clinginger, Michael Thomas King, Eric William Larson, Terry Renee Lebrun, Shawna Siobhan Lee, Charlie Lindsay, Brandon Michael Litwin, Nicole Ann Livingston,

Nathaniel Carl Lorman, Travis Thompson, Mays cum Laude, Katie Joyce, Lucas, Chris, Luca, Tabitha and Maitland. Angela Lynn Maloney, Summa cum Laude Michael Shane McLaughlin, Laurie and Mcquay, Michael Edward Mayer, Evanom Israel

Miller, Sarah Elizabeth Miller, Jennifer Diane O'Brien, Summa cum laude. Brad Stefan Owens, Benjamin Walter Pelowitz, John Thomas, Patricia Dana Lynn Palger, Brian Phillip Polara, Christina Renee

Rathel, cum Laude Jordan, Daryl Rose, Molly Ann Naznanski Scott Errol Russell Junior Joseph Michael Schreifer, Jessica Kathleen Sultanen, Aaron M Senate Mandrill Jarrell Solomon Olivia Rice Starkey, Jennifer Jean Stevens Magna cum Laude

Alex E Swartz Summa cum Laude. Hillary and Siegel, Kimberly Aaron Toshone Magna cum Laude. Angela Maria Wanner, Jeffrey Jackson Weaver, Carrie Joe Webb, Lance Robert Wood, Shannon Kate Yosta, Blair Alonza Younger Adam

Joseph Hunter, cum Laude Megan Grace Sunday cum Laude. Peter Morgan Jones, Aaron Zavi Lebliner Walters. Lynn Marie Rebecky, Brian Sidney Snook, Kristen Elizabeth Carter, Marc Giulio Del Gallo, Jamie Renee Herringer.

Adam Blair, Nickel Summa cum Laude. Kimberly Nicole Shaw. Jamie Lynn Simpson, Magna cum Laude. Tanetta Wright.

My name is Ella Neeson. I'm the associate Dean of the College of Health Professions. On the far right of the stage is Doctor Charlotte Exner. She's the Dean of the College of Health Professions.

On behalf of the faculty and staff, we extend our congratulations to the graduates and our best wishes for professional success and personal health and happiness. Catherine Patricia Miller, summa cum laude.

Jessica Ann Coletta, cum laude. Legia Marie Maria Davis, cum laude. Jennifer Lynn Kardash cum Laude Veronica Adair Matthews, Patrick Lee N cum Laude Blair O'donovan Angelo Joseph Romano The 2nd

Joshua Roberts Stern, Patrick F Conrad Junior, Angela Nicole Cummings, Kristen Lynn Edwards, Elena In Jedi Marie Francine Green, Melissa Christian Newble, Deon K Lloyd. Andrea Renee Osbourne, Jennifer Saunders, Jason Garrett Vollmer

and Gwen Wood. Joanna Lalwie cum Loudy Lakisha Amelia Alexander, Agnes Amma Amma Fuli Yolanda Angelina Ivy Beth Buzinski, Kristen Jane Jarosinski, Andrea Michelle Molay, Jennifer Noel Ritchie,

Kristen Elizabeth Stiddle and Catherine Zetelli. Stacey Lynn Putzbasta cum Laude Laurie Page Blanchard, Suzanne M Bonner. Come Laude, Cheryl, Sonya Bauer, Marissa Faith Gelb, Margaret Lee

Burke, Laura Michelle Caldwell, Vanessa Marie Frazier, Victoria Beth Gelfen, Michael Andrew Gertz Meyer, Eamonn Akpan Ibanga, Joanna Elizabeth Kalin Tracy L Kirby cum Laude, Sonia Marie Luthold.

Summa cum Laude, Cheryl and Moneus Doris Chano, Jessica Michelle Sinski, GAIL Darlene Voight. Summa cum Laude Kristen Nicole Bradley Jennifer Ellen Ayers Wayne Carroll Fuhrer Junior Donald Raymond LaPorte Stephen

Matthew Lurtz Timothy Carroll Marklin Junior cum Laude Matthew Ammon 9 Denny J Newborn Christina Joyce Steck cum Laude Sean Patrick Downey Jonathan Richard Heron Megan Marie Kelly Honors College Summa cum Laude Eric Alan Leach Eric Joseph

Olevnik Nicholas James Rohras Lee Summers, Christina Louise Westman Christy Lynn Harrison Summa cum laude. Kimberly, Michelle. Orphan, Sarah Lynn Wiest, Rieselin, Rios, Miro Honors

College Magna cum Laude. Naara Atara, Sandy Bernard, Charles Casserly, Lisa. Hoffer Newman. Good afternoon.

I'm Tom Profit, associate Dean in the College of Education. On the other side of the stage is Doctor Dennis Henkel, Dean of the College. On behalf of the faculty and staff, we extend congratulations

today's graduates. We also extend our gratitude to you for enriching our university experience. Sarah Virginia Roche, summa cum laude.

Renee Heather All ball Amy Alene Ashbrook, cum laude. Sarah Claire Bittner, cum laude. Brooke Lauren Corbett, Virginia and Elgin, cum laude. Anne Marie Nicole Finnello, cum laude.

Michelle Lynn Glenn, cum laude Sarah Lynn Guerri Melissa Marie Hicks, cum laude. Mary Elizabeth Hilliard, Amanda Lee Hoover, cum laude. Victoria Louise Lockwood, Summa cum laude.

Colleen Denise Lukert, Therese Marie Mccotter, Andrea Marie Morris cum Laude. Kathleen Ellen Morris Allison Catherine Massa Stephanie Susan Pound, Stacy Marie Ramey Barbara Elisa Santana Jennifer Jones,

skipper, cum laude. Denise Marie Walter Cynthia Elizabeth Winters, Teresa Joan Ward, Summa cum laude. Alsha Shock, Leslie Ann Armature Monica Megan Bankard, Magna cum

laude. Elizabeth Marie Bear Susan Michelle Bisco, cum laude. Carrie Lynn Blevins, Nora Marie Brent, cum laude. Jennifer Lynn Brittingham Ann Marie Bucchione, cum laude.

Laurie Ann Cacciatore Shannon Marie Cook, cum laude. Christina Lynn Carlson, cum laude. Kimberly Thalen Curran, cum laude. Catherine Elizabeth Destefano, Summa cum laude.

Kimberly Lynn de Paula Christine Alana Donovan, cum laude. Frank Bowers, Dunlap the Third Jodie Lauren Edwards, cum laude. Jeffrey Sean Elliott, Samantha Lewis Eucini Stacey Marie Furred cum laude.

Allison Alina Ford, cum Laude Jessica Heather Forrest, cum laude Melissa Ann Fowler, cum laude Britt Marie Glare cum laude. Michelle Lee Gazda cum laude.

Erica Christine Giambroni, Nyssa Goldstein, Maggie Melinda Gordon, cum laude. Lacey Marie Grumbine, Magna cum laude. Sandra Lynn Hahn, cum laude.

Kellyanne Harmer, cum laude. Mark Dwayne Hesse cum laude. Becky GAIL Higgins, Kristen Hively, Magna cum laude. Kellyanne Holcomb, summa cum laude.

Jessica Ray Honecker, cum laude. Lawrence Michael Jenner, cum laude. Kelly Marie Justice Cheryl and Kanasik, cum laude. Jennifer Alyssa Katz, cum laude.

Douglas Joseph Knox, cum laude. Jennifer Marie Cronenberg, Aaron Lee Leahy, Summa cum laude. Teresa Jean Lee, cum laude. Barbara Louise Martin, Magna cum laude.

Kathleen Marie Mcculla, cum laude. Teresa Marie Lou Minix, Summa cum laude. Lisa Christine Montanti Michaela Marie Montine, cum laude. Angel Opticia Nichols Kellyanne O'Connell, cum laude.

Kirstie Evan Pringle, Kathleen Marie Radcliffe, Geraldine Rinaldi, Magna cum laude. Tara Ann Romano, Magna cum laude. Sharon Amy Sackler Summa cum Laude Christina Marie Salomone

cum laude Alan J Scududo, Mary Lou Sheer Summa cum Laude. Michelle Lynn Scarratko cum Laude. Deborah Lynn Swann Paige Vogaris Aaron Michelle Warner cum laude Elizabeth Joy Waathen Magna cum Laude Beth Laura Wermiel cum

laude Bethany Lynn Wert cum laude. Dwayne Ellsworth Williams, Melissa Diane Williamson, cum laude Kelly Marie Willoughby, cum laude Catherine McPhee Anderson, Katie Christine Karcher, Marie Louise 3.

Kill Nichols, cum laude. Daniel Vincent, Polling Brie and Purpura. Deanna Doherty Roderick Michael James Wisner, Marsha I Zepp, summa cum laude.

That's a, that's a pretty big deal in it, huh? You know, I'd like to do one more demonstration because I don't think people here understand how big a deal it really is.

And I'm going to ask the audience and the graduates to help me with this one, as well as my colleagues on the stage. Here's what I'd like you to do if one or more of your parents and for your graduates, if one or more of your grandparents did

not have the opportunity for four year education, would you please rise and stand with me? Do we have the house lights a bit all in the audience? Could they turn up the house lights a bit?

Graduates, I'd like you to look around to see how special that what you have received today really is. Please be seated. The point of that little demonstration is simply this,

that about 10 years ago, just a little under one in four Americans had a four year college experience out of 200 and some million people today out of about 280 million, just under one in five, 20% register.

I'd like you to join me one more time in thanking those who've made this event very special. Miss Sally Allison and other members of the event and conference services, Mr.

Dan Leonard, President's office. Mr. Bill, ruling of the Provost office, Miss Mary Ellen Quinby, Enrollment Services, Alicia Schwartz of the University Store

and other members of the Commencement planning committee, our faculty and student marshals. Would you join me please in giving them a big round of applause?

I've learned in life that that what you receive is not half as important as what you choose to do with it. We charge you as graduates today to go out into the world as full bodied citizens and to make a difference.

I would ask that members of the audience and graduates remain standing until the President's party and the faculty has recessed. Will everyone please stand and join Anne Marie Cell and singing

of God Bless America? You will find the words on page 25 of your commencement program. God Bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam God bless America, my home sweet home.

(music)