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| President Speert Leads University’s 187th Commencement Ceremony | ||
The families of the 1,656 undergraduates listened intently as Speert celebrated the graduates' successes, and reminded them of the difficulties ahead. “The realities of new challenges will become apparent,” he said. “Don’t ever forget the feeling you have today of the satisfaction and pride in your academic accomplishments. My first suggestion is simple enough…never underestimate yourself.” He also recommended that the graduates never underestimate anyone else. “You should feel great about what you have accomplished and how you have succeeded, but never so great that you overlook the importance of those who work with you or present you with challenges.” Speert then urged the graduates to “recognize that to fulfill your goals and succeed in life you can accomplish much more when you work with others to achieve your goals,” he said. “This way, you bring to the issue multiple skill-sets, talents and ideas. You are winners, you are special, and you will succeed.” Joseph Nyamwange, who gave the student address for the Class of 2010, brought the graduates to their feet with his optimistic message, despite a gloomy job market. “We can accept the status quo waiting for an opportunity, or we can roll up our sleeves and become job creators,” he said. “So as we march through this decade, I call on this class not to accept the outcome offered to us; let us be known as the class that created its own opportunities for ourselves.” Rev. Louis J. Scurti, director of Catholic Campus Ministry, the Bishop Rodimer Catholic Campus Ministry Center, and the Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Chapel, received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Father Scurti, who has served as the University’s campus minister for 31 years, encouraged the graduates to find their natural gifts. “Listen to what your true friends say about you,” he said. “Which gifts do they most often mention? These gifts express the essence, the ‘who’ of you that can not be taken away or lost.” The University’s graduate commencement ceremony was held on May 18. Leonard Zax, president of the Hamilton Partnership, which is spearheading the creation of the Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park in the city’s historic district, also received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. He urged the graduates to echo the persistence shown by earlier generations. “This is what makes us who we are,” he said. “A dream of brighter days ahead, a faith in things unseen, a belief that here in this country, we can be the authors of our own destinies, even if, like Alexander Hamilton, our parents and grandparents came to America without money or social standing. And now it falls to you, the Class of 2010, to write the next chapter in America’s story. To meet the tests of your own time and to take up the ongoing work of fulfilling our founding promise, just as Hamilton was able to do.” Tashi Oyola spoke for the graduate class. “Despite our diverse starting points, the paths we have traveled, challenges we have overcome, and all of our exciting and rewarding experiences at this university, today we reach our grand finale as students of William Paterson,” she said. “Graduation, however, does not mark the end of our commitment to this university. Whether it is through hosting a workshop on campus, volunteering at events, or any other service that can be offered, our support as alumni will be instrumental to the advancement and the future of this fine institution.” |
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