Peter Strickland (British Army officer)

Transcription

[ Silence ] [ Music ] >> Good afternoon. This commencement ceremony begins with the entrance of the candidates for graduation from the Schools of Construction & Design Technologies and Health Sciences from the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Please join me in welcoming the candidates for graduation. [ Music ] >> Please rise if you're able for the national anthem to be performed by Leah Nathan [phonetic]. Leah is the daughter of faculty member Brad Nathan. Gentlemen, please remove your caps. [ Silence ] [ Music ] [ Applause ] >> You may be seated. [ Noise ] >> Seated in the auditorium are families and friends in many different ways supported each candidates to reach the goal represented by the ceremony. On the platform, the college and staff who's motivated, encouraged, and inspired these students as they completed their course work in their college experience and before us are the candidates for graduation who had become good friends, mentors, and colleagues with open relationships that will serve them well as they move in to the future together. We join them as members of an extended support network to celebrate our involvement with these candidates and to witness their accomplishments. That celebration now begins. Presiding over the main commencement ceremony is the President of the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour. [ Applause ] >> Thank you and good afternoon, and welcome to our beautiful Community Arts Center and to the commencement ceremony honoring the Class of 2011. Today, you the graduates become part of a very proud legacy. For nearly 100 years, this institution has prepared men and women to thrive in a changing world to enter the workforce and to advance into positions that will influence our future. As we celebrate your commencement today, we also look forward to the contributions that you will make in the days to come. This is truly a ceremony that honors the past, the present, and the future. We appreciate the efforts that you have put forth in order to reach these milestones and I ask each of you today to be sure to take time to gratefully acknowledge the support you have received from your family, your friends, your faculty, and your staff mentors. This day is important to all of us. I hope it is the day you will remember forever. [ Pause ] [ Applause ] >> Now, I would like to introduce Mr. Elliott Strickland, Interim Chief Student Affairs Officer. [ Pause ] [ Noise ] >> President Gilmour, Chairman Dunham, distinguished faculty and staff, parents and guests, and most importantly, our 2011 graduates. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you your May 2011 Student Commencement Speaker, Adam J. Yoder. [ Applause ] >> Know, I've known Adam for most of his time here at Penn College but I have the distinct pleasure last evening of sitting with him and his parents at the Penn College Awards. Adam was one of 15 students who was honored with this reward for his outstanding student leadership and significant contributions to student life in our campus. Now, after some general introductions around the table and some small-- and some initial small talks, the conversation quickly moved to embarrassing stories about Adam before we knew him. Now, at this point, Adam is getting really nervous as to which story I'm gonna tell you. The best story was one in which Adam's mom shared with us the discussion that Adam had with her when he returned home in December after his very first semester at college. Suffice it to say that Adam got in a little bit of trouble celebrating the end of his first academically successful semester at Penn College. I believe it would be accurate to say that in the midst of that conversation, neither Adam nor his parents would have thought that he would be standing in front of you delivering the commencement message and accomplishing all that he had in his time at Penn College. Adam is a strong finisher. These accomplishments span his life as a student both inside and outside of the classroom. Outside of the classroom, Adam is one of the most recognizable students on our campus and if you don't remember his face, you'll certainly remember his laugh. Adam served respective Penn College students as the Presidential Student Ambassador. He served his fellow Penn College students as an off campus community assistant and through his involvement in the Student Government Association as the Executive Vice President during the 2009-2010 academic year and as its President during the current 2010-2011 academic year and he has served the entire Penn College Community through his involvement in the College Governance Committee voting as a student representative on college council in the Academic Standards and Issues Committee through his role on our Middle States Accreditation Committee and our Foundations of Excellence Self-Study Committee. Again, Adam is a strong finisher. Inside the classroom, Adam has been an outstanding student. He graduated in December 2008 with 2 associate degrees, one in electrical technology and one in electromechanical maintenance technology. >> Today, he graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Building Automated Technology with a minor in Business Administration. As, I said before Adam is a strong finisher, so strong that in his last year of college, that stereotypical year of coasting in senior year, Adam earned a perfect 4.0 GPA. At Penn College career will be top off at tonight's Academic Awards Ceremony where he receives the President's Award for Leadership and Service to the college. You can't finish much stronger than that. As Adam moves on to his next phase of life, it is clear that he is moving from the idea of finishing strong to that of starting strong. He currently has 3 job offers on the table after declining a fourth at a prestigious international corporation. There is no doubt that from day 1, Adam will be making a difference in his professional life just as he has done here at Penn College. Please help me welcome your May 2011 Student Commencement Speaker, Adam Yoder. [ Applause ] >> Good afternoon everyone. Let me start by first thanking Mr. Elliot Strickland for that interesting introduction. [Laughter]. I would like to thank the Penn College faculty, staff and administration for their support and efforts in our time at Penn College. Thank you to all the family and friends of every graduate here today. Thank you for your love, support, and most importantly, your patience to a very significant time in our lives. Most importantly, thank you Pennsylvania College Technology Class of 2011. Thank you for the privilege of addressing you this afternoon. It would be an honor serving as your representative to the administration in the college community the past 2 years and thank you for the memories and experiences that you've given me. After discovering that I have been selected as the commencement speaker, I began thinking of what to say and it wasn't really easy. I ask myself the question, what is Penn College? What would I say as an alumnus to somebody asking me about Penn College? First thing to come to mind are degrees of work, the academics the programs that are offered here, but that's common sense. There's more to Penn College than just academics. There's-- the personal interactions and experiences that you can't get anywhere else. There's the out-of-classroom experience that you can't put a price on, getting involved, developing your leadership skills. The education that you get hanging out with your friends across the street at Kimball's and playing [inaudible] [laughter]. These experiences make Penn College what it is. The people make Penn College what it is. Class of 2011, we make Penn College what it is. When putting the speech together, I also ask myself what is my place and purpose as a Penn College alumni? How do I contribute to my alma mater after I'm in the workforce? Asking these questions made me realize that our experiences here and the people here have molded us into the people that we've become. As we move forward into the workforce and show what we have become, we carry with us these experiences, these memories and the education that we've obtained. We carry with us and demonstrate Penn College. But [inaudible] that passion and drive that got us today, we will continue to build the name that is Penn College just like the alumni that we are joined today have done in their careers. Sharing our experiences good and bad with others shows what an amazing place this is, it puts more value and is what already a superb institution. We will make Penn College what it is for future students and alumni. The Class of 2011, I know you have it in you. I've seen it throughout my time here. I've seen you raise 35,000 plus dollars through a scholarship in under a year. I've seen you involve in community service projects in local area and beyond. I've seen the drives and the passion you all possess and that's why I know you can do it and that is what will make us all successful in the real world. Keep doing what you've done so far and you'll all be successful. I'm sure of it. And one last thing before I finish, stay in touch with our alma mater. Keep in touch with our professors, administrators, and staff whom we've developed relationships with. Most importantly, stay in touch with each other, all the work we've put in, all the memories we've shared have developed a bond that cannot be broken. It's important for us to maintain that bond and grow that bond alumni. Maintaining that bond will be a contributing factor to our success as professionals in our interests and fields. Maintaining a relationship with our alma mater will be a contributing factor to our success. Class of 2011, thank you for allowing me this honor today. Thank you for the memories and thank you for being you. Congratulations everybody. [ Applause ] >> The distinguished Alumni Award is presented to a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Technology or its forerunners to the Williamsport Area Community College and the Williamsport Technical Institute who had demonstrated the importance of education by making significant contributions in the field, participating a leadership roles in the community, a demonstrating a commitment to the college and to the community in terms of its community relations. The 2010 Distinguished Alumni-- the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented today to Ed McCabe, a member of the class of 1967 and a member of the electrical technology faculty in the School Of Construction And Design Technologies. After completing his associate degree in Electronics Technology, Ed and a business partner opened up Mek-Tronix Laboratories Corporation. In the 70's, he generated 5 patents including those for several prominent technologies, caller ID and the fax handshake protocol and the telephone memory dialer. That's right, you can thank Ed today because we are now able to screen unwanted phone calls. [ Laughter ] >> That's right. [ Applause ] >> We see Ed's father was a math and science teacher in the days when the institution was known as the Williamsport Technical Institute. His parents-- [inaudible] over here, his parents actually met there at WTI where his mother was a secretary, so even before he was born, his legacy was beginning on our campus. The connection to WTI grew when Ed was in the sixth grade working on a science fair project with a girl named Marilyn. Her father just happened to be Dr. Kenneth Carl, President of the Williamsport Technical Institute. Dr. Carl noticed Ed's interest in electronics and gave him his old radio to restore and listen to the radio in his bedroom until he left home after graduating from the college. But what about the pinball machine. Now, that's another project that young Ed took on. After one of his father's WTI friends handed over a broken machine, Ed not only fixed the pinball machine, but he used what he learned about electrical wiring and logic circuits who later build a computer that he entered in to his ninth grade science fair. The computer built from the knowledge Ed gained fixing an old pinball machine went on to a state-wide fair where he'd earned second place. By the age of 15, Ed was fixing radios, televisions to earn spending money. After he graduated from the Williamsport Area Community College, he spent more than 35 years working in the electronics industry in product management, marketing, quality control, research and development. In addition to his work with the telephone, Ed works on projects related to semiconductors and computerization. He also helped bring the first computer-operated prototype printer used in the printing industry from prototype to production. During his years in business, Ed hired a number of our graduates. In fact, 2 men that he once hired, now teach at Penn College. In 2001, Ed decided he'd like teach as well. We have been honored to have him in our classroom for the last decade teaching classes related to electrical technology, electronics and computer networking. He plans to retire one of these days. We're not sure when and that's okay with us. We certainly expect that our connection with Ed McCabe will continue forever. Our connection just seems to be part of a much bigger plan. It's my honor to introduce to you the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, Mr. Ed McCabe. [ Applause ] >> Thank you. [ Inaudible Remark ] [ Applause ] >> Thank you, President Gilmour for that wonderful introduction. It was probably less longer than my speech. [ Laughter ] >> But, you know who to blame now once I miss this. I have your number. [ Laughter ] >> When I got a notification I was getting this reward, it left me speechless for first time I'm probably over 40 years in my wife will attest to that I couldn't talk for probably half an hour 'till like regained my composure and she finally asked me what got me so speechless and she's never known me not to talk and neither do any of my students that are out there today. >> But never fear, I have my voice back. When I thought about what I was going to say today, my first thoughts were, do I write a list of all the people I need to thank throughout my career and list all my accomplishments, but Dr. Gilmour is taking care of that for me. And I decided, you know, I don't need to come up with a long list of people I need to thank and I'm not gonna write a speech. I'll talk to you the way I do when I talk to my students from the heart. And so, there are only 2 thank you's I have. Number 1 is this college for giving me the education to start me down the road to a really wonderful career which I intend to end here when I finally do retire. I'll pick a date. We'll see if we stick to it. And the other thank you has to go to my wonderful wife, Sherri for all the years she supported me from the lean times to the good times. And that brings me to something that happens to me about the mid time of every semester. I get 2 questions from my students. Once they get to know me and we get to talk, the first question I get is always this way. Did you really invent caller ID? [Laughter] Yes, I did. That leads to how, why, and I tell them this and this goes back to something that was attributed to the Romans which actually goes back to the times of Plato and translated roughly as Necessity as the mother of invention. There was a need for caller ID, so therefore it was an invention that I was able to come up with. But this applies to anything to do in life. If there's a need for something, go forth, put your effort into it and apply yourself and you'll be thrilled with the results. Now the second question I always get after I explain the caller ID and we'll go through how it works a little bit, is if you did all that, what are you doing here. [Laughter] And my answer to that is I love it. It's the most rewarding job I have ever had. When I can see what I can do with the student in one semester or when I get them to the point where they're going to graduate as you are today is very rewarding. And I will tell them and I tell you to be successful. You definitely have to have a passion for what you're doing. And if you have a passion for what you're doing, you will be successful. If you lose that passion, your odds of success are way down. So enjoy what you're doing, keep the passion, keep up the good work. In closing, there are 2 quotes that come to mind that I'm going to read to you. The first one is from Abraham Lincoln, "That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well." The second one comes from somebody that was a radio and television personality that I listen to and watch as I was growing up, and that was Art Linkletter and his quote was, "Things turn out the best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out." And I think both of those are very appropriate and is-- I was reminded before I came up here today, you're so used to talking in box of 50 minutes, maybe you won't be able to do that today and I will cut this short. [Laughter] And I will congratulate all of you that are graduates in here today and I wish you all happiness and success in your future and in your careers. Thank you and thank Penn College for the support. I really do appreciate it. [ Applause ] >> Teaching is the heart of Penn College and we place a high value on the teaching and learning process. In recognizing teaching excellence, we demonstrate the best of what Penn College has to offer. As we celebrate the fine work that takes place in our classrooms and our laboratories, we confirm our mission. The Distinguished Teaching Awards are presented each May at commencement to full-time faculty members who have been nominated by students in college for their excellence in instructional performance. Since 1982, 87 distinguished teaching awards have been presented and tomorrow we will have the pleasure of presenting these awards. Thank you. [ Noise ] >> Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you know, the legal corporate body, the Pennsylvania College of Technology as its board of directors, this is the body that by our charter is given final responsibility for the government's welfare and all other interests pertaining to the college. Though some responsibilities are delegated, ultimate authority rest to its board. At this time, I would like to call upon Dr. Robert Dunham, Chairman of the Board of Directors to authorize the conferring of degrees at this ceremony. Dr. Dunham. [ Noise ] >> Provost Starkey, members of the faculty, and of course the graduating class of 2011. Even on Friday the 13th, this has to be a very special day for you. The degrees being awarded here today has come from your hard work, from the strong support of the faculty and friends. And on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania College of Technology, I extend to all the graduates our congratulations and best wishes. And to the supporting faculty members and faculty and friends, I extend to you our thanks, too. Now, I turn to my official duty, Dr. Gilmour. By virtue of the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania College of Technology, I authorize you on behalf of the board to confer on each of these graduates the degree earned as certified by the appropriate dean. [ Noise ] >> Will the candidates for the Bachelor of Science degrees, please rise. [ Noise ] >> Dr. Gilmour upon recommendation of the faculty, I am pleased to inform you that these men and women have satisfactorily completed their requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. >> Thank you. By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania College of Technology, I do hereby confer upon you the Bachelor of Science degrees you have earned with all of the rights and privileges, and with congratulations from the Board of Directors, the faculty and the administration. Congratulations. [ Applause ] >> You may be seated. Will the candidates for all Associate degrees and certificates, please rise. [ Noise ] >> Dr. Gilmour, upon recommendation of the faculty, I am pleased to inform you that these men and women have satisfactorily completed the requirements for their respective Associate degrees and certificates. >> By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania College of Technology, I do hereby confer upon you the Associate degrees and certificates that you have earned with all of the rights and privileges and with congratulations from the Board of Directors, the faculty, the administration and the staff. Congratulations. [ Applause ] >> Now, if you all please remain standing. And will the baccalaureate graduates, please stand. And Adam, come over here. Stand. [ Laughter ] >> This always worried me. [ Laughter ] >> It's the simple things, Adam. Ladies and gentlemen, you entered this theater today as candidates for certificates and degrees that you have earned. You have just had those degrees conferred upon you. As a simple of your entry into the world of educated men and women, I ask you to join me as I turn the graduation tassel of your class representative. This symbolizes that in fact you are now a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Congratulations. [ Applause ] >> You may be seated. [ Noise ] >> It's a good thing that wasn't a final exam. As institutions and individuals, we all passed through stages of development. >> Point in time where we grow into new roles and new responsibility. This ceremony is the transition event for every graduate in the room. Today, we will recognize individuals with academic honors. Outstanding academic achievement is recognized for all students. The gold, silver or white cord that they wear during this ceremony, white for honors, silver for high honor, and gold for highest honor can identify these students. In addition, we are proud to recognize graduates who are members of Phi Theta Kappa. Their gold stole and gold tassels can identify these students. We will also recognize graduates from Alpha Chi Honor Society, white stole who'll identify those students. And we would now like to recognize our veterans. They are identified by the red, white, and blue cords. Those who are graduating including those-- [ Applause ] >> Who served in all active branches of the military or on the reserve. Will the veterans, please rise. [ Applause ] [ Background Applause ] >> And I will ask you to remain standing because I wanna tell you how proud we are of our veterans. In the veterans attending Penn College, we have 3 for Purple Heart recipients. We have 5 from bronze star recipients. We have 76 Iraq service medal recipients and 17 Afghanistan service medal recipients. We are very proud of you. Thank you. [ Applause ] >> You may be seated. [ Applause ] >> At this time, we'd like to take a few minutes to honor the memory of a young woman who's not here to celebrate commencement with us this weekend. Tracy A. Garis was a student in out dental hygiene program when she died in a traffic accident last summer. Tracy was a very active Penn College student. She served as a resident assistant and a student ambassador. Her death touched many students, faculty, and staff very deeply. Tracy was an inspiration during her short life, and her death inspired Penn College friends to remember her in a very special way. They have established the Tracy A. Garis Memorial Scholarship. The commitment shown by this student body and vigorously raising the fund to establish the scholarship is nothing short of remarkable. Frankly, I was in awe. I cannot ever remember seeing so many students come together for a common purpose to honor one of their own. I was so moved by this effort led by Adam Yoder and Greg Miller. By the end of the academic year, these students have raised 35,823 dollars and 12 cents. [ Applause ] >> As an appropriate way to honor a young woman who left the last-- lasting legacy on our campus, the Tracy A. Garis Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a dental hygiene student who is an active leader on campus. We believe Tracy would have wanted it this way. Today, members of Tracy's family here with us to honor her memory and to accept the diploma on the behalf of the young woman-- young woman who meant so much for the Class of 2011 and who meant so much to everyone at Penn College. I'd like to invite her mother and father, Cheryl and Ed Garis to the stage to accept the Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene on her behalf. [ Applause ] >> I was not prepared for this, but I kinda got my guts up while I was sitting there. Thank you Dr. Gilmour. I just wanted to say thank you to Adam and Greg for all your hard work with the scholarship fund. And to all you dental hygiene girls out there, Tracy is with us today. She's looking down on us and I know she is so proud of you all. I know how hard it's been, how hard she studied last year and I just wanna tell everyone-- everyone that donated for the scholarship fund, I appreciate your effort and everything that you all did. Thank you. [ Applause ] >> Thank you very much. We appreciate it. [ Applause ] >> At this time, Ms. Carolyn Strickland, Assistant Vice President for Academic Services and the respective floor representative who will present the candidates. Dr. Gilmour will assist in presenting the diplomas. Your connection to the college is not going to end today. You are in fact going to be graduates and members of the Penn College Alumni Association. Now, that association is the main link between you and your alma mater. And I encourage you to keep in touch with the Alumni Relations Office. You'll hear about-- hear from the office monthly via e-news as well as of course Facebook. I look forward to welcoming you back to campus the future alumni events. In particular, we like hearing the success that you had in the work world and keeping as track of you and what you're doing. Today is a special day for everybody and we know that you wanna capture pictures of the big moment. We simply ask you to keep the area in front of the official photographer clear, otherwise you're welcome to come down and take the pictures that you like. Are you ready? [ Noise ] >> Okay. We will begin. [ Noise ] >> President Gilmour, I present the Graduates of Architectural Technology, Building Science in Sustainable Design Construction Emphasis. I don't believe it was on Architectural Technology, Building Science in Sustainable Design Construction Emphasis and Building on Science in Sustainable Architectural Emphasis from within the School of Construction and Design Technologies. >> Brandon Lee Daja [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Nicholas C. Strange [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Jared B. Summers. [ Applause ] >> Laura Jean Wolf. [ Applause ] [ Applause ] >> Ashley C. Andrew. [ Applause ] >> Bryan Applebaum. [ Applause ] >> Jordan Michael Patengo [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Eric Ian Bocich. [ Applause ] >> Brent Michael Trastler [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Antoinette M. [inaudible]. [ Applause ] >> James Joseph Garofalo [phonetic], Jr. [ Applause ] >> Timothy P. Gladpoker. [ Applause ] >> Daisy Lee Grant. [ Applause ] >> Shawn William Handwork. [ Applause ] >> Charles F. Hogan [ Applause ] >> Andrew Thomas Klasky [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Kevin Matthew Laniny. [ Applause ] >> Joshua T. Lilly. [ Applause ] >> Melissa Ann Maruszak. [ Applause ] >> Matthew P. Robertson. [ Applause ] >> Tyler Lee Walter. [ Applause ] >> Christopher Jay Weaver. [ Applause ] >> Kristen N. Wool. [ Applause ] >> Julie R. Eunice. [ Applause ] [ Silence ] >> Zachary Andrew Croft. [ Applause ] >> Holley C. Jackson. [ Applause ] >> Kyle Mark Nettle. [ Applause ] >> President Gilmour, I'm proud to present the Graduates of Building Construction Technology, Building Construction Technology Masonry Emphasis all within the School of Construction Design Technologies. >> Mitchell Ray Holsinger [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Jaren V. Hughs [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Keith Robert Khan [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Brock Coffman. [ Applause ] >>Zachary K. Mansfield. [ Applause ] >> Chad W. Nickerson. [ Applause ] >> Nicholas D. Royer. [ Applause ] >> John Sadison. [ Applause ] >> Ryan L. Ventura. [ Applause ] >> Thomas Michael Whitehouse. [ Applause ] >> Benjamin James Johnson. [ Applause ] >> Jason Morally. [ Applause ] >> David Allan Roads. [ Applause ] >> President Gilmour, I present the Graduates of Constructions Management within the School of Construction Design Technologies. >> Christopher Paul Arnone. [ Applause ] >> Jean P. Pell [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Jonathan M. Solomon. [ Applause ] >> Michael R. Riggs. [ Applause ] >> Neil Bradley Briner. [ Applause ] >> Nicholas Joseph Colarich [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Gabrielle Pelicci. [ Applause ] >> Nicholas Lee Pajello [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Nicholas Michael Gibbons. [ Applause ] >> Kyle P. Heff [ Applause ] >> Gregory Scott Collins. [ Applause ] >> Thomas Sadowski. [ Applause ] >> Jeremy James Lane [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Derek Lenard. [ Applause ] [ Laughter ] [ Applause ] >> Raymond Anthony Marcons. [ Applause ] >> Lee Daryll Michaels. [ Applause ] >> Cole Steven Myers. [ Applause ] >> David Jay Petoskey. [ Applause ] >> Kyle Aaron Smith. [ Applause ] >> Shawn Joseph Michael Scully. [ Applause ] >> Congratulations. >> Cory A. Shank. [ Applause ] >> Brad A. Shulenberger. [ Applause ] >> Jonathan William Spyker. [ Applause ] >> President Gilmour, I'm very proud to present the Graduates of Residential Construction Technology and Management, Residential Construction Technology and Management Major in Construction, Applied Technical Studies Basic Construction Emphasis and Residential Builder, all within the School of Construction Design Technologies. >> Anthony J. Calabro. [ Applause ] >> Benjamin Kyle Clarke. [ Applause ] >> Jason M. Crawford. [ Applause ] >> Patrick S. Tongco. [ Applause ] >> Nicholas Robert Schwarzer [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Randy Aaron Kuhar. [ Applause ] >> Cameron A. Marberger. [ Applause ] >> Paul Joseph Moran. [ Applause ] >> Justin John Moyer. [ Applause ] >> Allison Claire Nabli [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Eric Landis Snyder. [ Applause ] >> Anthony R. Grubbs. [ Applause ] >> Matthew D. Romanowski. [ Applause ] >> William Craig Cameron. [ Applause ] >> Peter James Casserly. [ Applause ] >> Kimberly Lynn Daley. [ Applause ] >> Mccalley C. Incontro. [ Applause ] >> James Patrick Luigi [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Shawn E. Mandel. [ Applause ] >> Robert A. Marquardt. [ Applause ] >> Jonathan George McAvoy. [ Applause ] >> Mark David Nornhold. [ Applause ] [ Inaudible Remark ] [ Applause ] >> Connor Joseph Reeves. [ Applause ] >> Christopher M. Rugo. [ Applause ] >> Bryan T. Schwalm. [ Applause ] >> Jonathan M. Stedman. [ Applause ] >> Daniel Steven Sweeny. [ Applause ] >> Shawn D. Wesche. [ Applause ] >> Bryan Daniel West. [ Applause ] >> Jonathan E. Ziegler. [ Applause ] >> Adam Douglas [inaudible]. [ Applause ] >> Dalton C. Kirkman. [ Applause ] >> Dr. Gilmour, give me a great deal of pleasure to represent the Graduate of Electrical Technology, Electrical Maintenance Technology, Electrical Occupation and Building Automation Technology within the School of Construction Design Technologies. >> Cale Tanner Benard. [ Applause ] >> Derek Parker Khan. [ Applause ] >> Nathan Jay Delaney. [ Applause ] >> Douglas N. DeWalt. [ Applause ] >> John Charlton Henan [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Cody Daniel Lehman. [ Applause ] >> Andrew John Levering. [ Applause ] >> Daniel Allen Montville. [ Applause ] >> Amanda Elizabeth Reedy. [ Applause ] >> Frederick L. Roop [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Bruce Bertrand Heinson [phonetic], Jr. [ Applause ] >> Jolene Anne Woodcock. [ Applause ] >> Bert E. Polinskie. [ Applause ] >> Andrew John Fisher. [ Applause ] >> Timothy J. Bennicoff. [ Applause ] >> Robert J. Baugh. [ Applause ] >> Clayson J. Brett. [ Applause ] >> Jordan Hastings Goode. [ Applause ] >> Seth Tyler Hoffman. [ Applause ] >> Philip Andrew Kaler. [ Applause ] >> Jordan Glenn McBeth. [ Applause ] >> Matthew A. Rodriguez. [ Applause ] >> Jacob Joseph Smerker. [ Applause ] >> Andrew Davis Warwick. [ Applause ] >> Bo Christopher Woodrick. [ Applause ] >> Dwayne S. Grove. [ Applause ] >> Bradley C. How. [ Applause ] >> Jonathan Gregory Kennedy. [ Applause ] >> President Gilmour, I present the Graduates of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Design Technology, HVAT Air Conditioning, HVAT Plumbing and Plumbing Certificate, all within the School of Construction Design Technology. >> Jeremy V. Baird [ Applause ] >> Ethan Lynn Boyd. [ Applause ] >> Jeremy William Campbell. [ Applause ] >> Nathan James Gennaria. [ Applause ] >> Richard W. Heatley, Jr. [ Applause ] >> Nathan Edward Hobbert. [ Applause ] >> Brandon Addison Marco. [ Applause ] >> Robert E. Martin, Jr. [ Applause ] >> Adam Shane Middlecamp. [ Applause ] >> Bryan. A. Oakley. [ Applause ] >> Brandon Lynn Rupert. [ Applause ] >> Douglas E. Bennett. [ Applause ] [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Say it again. Nicholas Edward C. Armet [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Bryan M. Engert. [ Applause ] >> Anthony J. Gordon. [ Applause ] >> Wade L. Hendrickson. [ Applause ] >> Mark Anthony Hoby. [ Applause ] >> Zane W. Miller. [ Applause ] >> Zachary Thomas Roby. [ Applause ] >> Thomas! >> Ethan C. Towner. [ Applause ] >> Tyler Joe Trout. >> Anthony! [ Applause ] >> Joseph Anthony Canavy. [ Applause ] >> John Arthur Crane, Jr. [ Applause ] >> Gene G. Scnapner [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Evan A. Silva. [ Applause ] >> Michael Allen Calino. [ Applause ] >> Ryan Edward Forry. [ Applause ] >> Matthew P. Pever. [ Applause ] >> Ryan John Weachock. [ Applause ] >> Keith William Ham. [ Applause ] [ Pause ] >> President Gilmour, I present the Graduates of Dental Hygiene within the School of Health Sciences. [ Applause ] >> Rebecca Danielle Antelope. [ Applause ] >> Rebecca! >> Sasha Nicole Diemler. [ Applause ] >> Carly Sue Determan, [ Applause ] >> Cathy Irene Homan. [ Applause ] >> Olivia Grace Jekielek. [ Applause ] >> Stephania M. Carolus. [ Applause ] >> Rebecca Lynn Lowell. >> Go Becky. [ Applause ] >> Sara Joy Lefever. [ Applause ] >> Brittany Carissa Liberatore. [ Applause ] >> Erin M. Wong. [ Applause ] >> Heidi Brooke Wong. [ Applause ] >> Brooke Nicole McCoy. [ Applause ] >> Karen J. Miller. [ Applause ] >> Erica Noelle Moore. [ Applause ] >> Erin Pauline Oberlin. [ Applause ] >> Brandy Lynn Pete [inaudible]. [ Applause ] >> Laura E. Salitrynski. [ Applause ] >> Jamie Sue Taylor. >> Jamie! [ Applause ] >> Carly Anne Smith. [ Applause ] >> Alison Renee Spade [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Heather Anne Steelman. [ Applause ] >> Danielle Anne Turner. [ Applause ] >> Amanda Beth Wagner. [ Applause ] >> President Gilmour, I present the Graduates of Physical Fitness Specialists within School of Health Sciences. [ Applause ] >> Amanda A. Allanah. [ Applause ] >> Yeah. Crystal Lynn Bear [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Elena Maurine Barn. [ Applause ] >> Stacey Lynn Eckert. >> Yeah Stacey. [ Applause ] >> Janell Melissa Remensnyder. [ Applause ] >> Go Meli! >> Kirsten G. Dier. [ Applause ] >> John T. Tremble. [ Applause ] >> President Gilmour, I'm proud to present the Graduates of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Health Studies within the School of Health Science. >> Andrew L. Maddocks. [ Applause ] >> Kurtis L. Rooker. [ Applause ] >> Sarah Elizabeth Foster. [ Applause ] >> Jordan A. Pennypacker. [ Applause ] >> Carla S. Ramirez. [ Applause ] >> President Gilmour, I very proudly present to you the Graduates of the Penn College Nursing Program both Associate and Bachelor's degree within the College of Health Sciences. [ Applause ] >> Rachel S. Andrews. [ Applause ] >> Laura Elizabeth Ault. [ Applause ] >> Patricia Louise Bond. [ Applause ] >> Jennifer A. Bauer. [ Applause ] >> Christian M. Brennan. [ Applause ] >> Trisha Marie Clebold [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Crystal Rae Criswell. [ Applause ] >> Amber Jewel Croak. [ Applause ] >> Courtney Grace Grogaard. [ Applause ] >> Lisa M. Hauser. [ Applause ] >> Janice Louise [inaudible]. [ Applause ] >> Tiffany M. [inaudible]. [ Applause ] >> Kelly Anne Hudick. [ Applause ] >> Matthew S. Hide. [ Applause ] >> [Inaudible] M. Kammer. [ Applause ] >> Matthew David Kirsty. [ Applause ] [ Inaudible Remark ] [ Applause ] >> Kelsey Lynn Mack. [ Applause ] >> Danielle Marie Mann. [ Applause ] >> Jonelle Lynn Manogue [ Applause ] >> Caroline Q. Matter. [ Applause ] >> Kelsey L. Michael [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Christine M. Michael. [ Applause ] >> Jeany Moon. [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Mark A. Moon. [ Applause ] >> Patricia A. Neff. [ Applause ] >> Heather Lynn Osborne. [ Applause ] >> Ashley L. Packer. [ Applause ] >> Tina Maria Paternostro. [ Applause ] >> Nadja Mary Politza. [ Applause ] >> Faith Anne Pratt. [ Applause ] >> Travis Michael Rupert. [ Applause ] >> Nicole L. Shiner. [ Applause ] >> Tanya Lynn Sizer [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Kelly J. Slaterbeck. [ Applause ] >> Erica B. Stockhouse. [ Applause ] >> Jessica L. Staib. [ Applause ] >> Cole M. Taylor. [ Applause ] >> Kimberly Joe Tompkins. [ Applause ] >> April M. Ward. [ Applause ] >> Bernardita Arietta York. [ Applause ] >> Christy Zinck. [ Applause ] >> Ashley Marie Janoka. [ Applause ] >> Hope E. Fitner [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Julie A. Cain. [ Applause ] >> Katie Lynn Carpenter. [ Applause ] >> Jessica M. Taberes [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Tessa Marie Dreibelbis. [ Applause ] >> Allison Lee Hain. >> Allison Lee Hain [ Applause ] >> Sky Lauren House. [ Applause ] >> Jessica Karen Lilly. [ Applause ] >> Trisha Marie Mozer. [ Applause ] >> Aimee N. Picchi. [ Applause ] >> Kristina Lynn Reichenbach. [ Applause ] >> Craig Arthur Shaper. [ Applause ] >> Anita [inaudible]. [ Applause ] >> Yeah-- >> Gregory A. Smith. [ Applause ] >> Jacquelyn Marie Steklenski [phonetic]. [ Applause ] >> Aimee Elizabeth Vander Wal. [ Applause ] >> Kevin M.-- Kevin W. Waltz. [ Applause ] >> Adelle M. Williams. [ Applause ] >> And, Adam Joshua Yoder. [ Applause ] [ Noise ] >> Now, I know everybody is ready to go, but I need to ask you for your indulgence for just 2 minutes and for the next 2 minutes, I'm really just talking to the graduates. We have this one last opportunity and it's my honor on behalf of all the faculty and staff of Penn College to share some parting words with you. First of all, good job. You did really well. You turned the tassel. You walked cross the stage and you made your family and your friends smile. This is another page in the scrapbook of your life. You've done a good job not only here today in this ceremony but over the last several years. Now, you've earned your degree, good job and well done. Today, you will hear applause and I hope the excitement and the energy, the buzz, if you will, from this celebration will stay alive at least through the rest of the weekend. But we all know-- [ Applause ] >> We all know in the real world, the days of applaud are pretty rare for most of us and when no one is clapping and no one is taking photos of the scrapbook of your life, how are you going to know if you're doing a good job? When there's no test to study for, no grades to earn, what measure will you use to determine whether or not you're doing a good job in your life? What is a good job anyway? Often when we ask people why they go to college, they say, "I wanna get a good job." It's important we ask ourselves how do we define good job and I'll ask you to think for a moment. What does it mean to you? Each of us have to define that term for ourselves and success means different things to everybody in this room differently. There's really no right way to define it. But I was going to suggest to you today that a good job is one that gives you a sense of pride, purpose, and connection to the world around you. A good job is one that gives you the opportunity to learn your talent, your knowledge, and your skills to make life better not only for yourself but for others. You see, doing a good job often means doing good for someone else. You might enjoy earning a good paycheck, but the sense of real accomplishment will come when you know that you are making the difference. The voice of wisdom, known as anonymous, states it very simply. To the world, you may just be one person, but to one person you might mean the world. What you do and what you share with others including your Penn College family is going to make a big difference in your life. Make the most of every opportunity that you have and make a positive impact on the people around you. You're entering a new phase in your life today. Today, you're a college graduate. I'm not sure you'll realize that you're in a very small minority in this population. Less than 7 percent of the world's population have earned a college degree and in the United States where we have greater access to higher education than many nations in the world, only 28 percent of the population have an earned college degree. Now, take a minute and let that facts sink in a little. You may not have thought about it, but you're in a very privileged group of people. You have what millions of people only dream about achieving, a college education. You've earned your degree with the help of your family and your friends with the incredibly gifted faculty behind me and you've earned your education through the support of the public whose taxation and donations have made your education possible. You worked hard and you sacrificed, but this is not the end of your effort. It's your responsibility to put your degree to work to do a good job in the world. Remember a few years ago, when some of you had a vague, if not, any idea of what you wanted to be when you grew up, you grew up today. Now, it's time to accomplish what you started dreaming about all those years ago. The author Maya Angelou said, "Nothing will work unless you do." I often think of that statement when I hear of people worrying or fussing about the state of the world. Nothing will work unless you do. So I don't mean that people can't fall on hard times. We do and we experience a downfall. Anyone can. So over the course of my life, I firmly believe that those who are willing to face the challenges of life will prevail. Their hard times will turn around because they persist. They will keep trying until they realize their dreams. Nothing will work until you do. You're ready to go to work, we know that. Many of you will leave here today with jobs. You're going to get a great job and you're going to do a good job because you're going to make up your mind to do just that. You're going to put your best effort forward and listen and learn like you've done for the past few years. You'll respond with your skills and your knowledge to the best of your ability. You will be ready when each new opportunity comes to you. The ancient philosopher Lao Tzu said, "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." Remember this when you face those moments when it seems so hard and you don't know how you'll make your dreams come true. Nothing will work unless you do so take the lessons you've learned and keep applying them day after day, week after week, and year after year. You will be amazed what you can become. So the lyrics of the song that was popular a few years ago and it said and I quote, "Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten." With each action you take, make it your life a life you wanna remember. Make it a life that you want others to remember. Do it for yourself and your family and your friends and do it for the lives lost like that of your classmate, Tracy Garis. Do it for all the people in the world who've never had a chance to earn a college degree. Do a good job and you will always have good fortune because you will have a good job to do. Congratulations to the Class of 2011 and our new Penn College Alumni. Now, make us proud. [ Applause ] >> I invite those who are able to stand. [Noise] Gentlemen, remove your caps, and everyone to join in the singing of the Penn College Alma Mater. The words may be found on page 2 of your programme. [ Noise ] [ Music ] [ Applause ] >> Thank you. Please be seated and remain seated until the platform party has recessed. [ Music ] >> We ask that the audience remain seated while the graduates [inaudible] and we ask that you continue all the way to the street so that you'll be able to connect with your family more easily. Best wishes. Good luck. [ Music ] [ Silence ]