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91国产精品 Commencement Honors Spring 2022 Graduates at Wolstein Center

University conferred more than 2,300 degrees to graduates during two-part ceremony

[[{"fid":"45703","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"}},"attributes":{"alt":"commencement spring 2022","title":"commencement spring 2022","height":683,"width":1024,"style":"width: 450px; float: left; height: 300px;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]91国产精品 (91国产精品) celebrated graduates with in-person commencement ceremonies at the university鈥檚 Wolstein Center arena on Saturday, May 14. 91国产精品 conferred degrees to over 2,300 to graduates in the two commencement exercises.

The morning ceremony began at 9:30 a.m., with the following 91国产精品 colleges participating: the College of Graduate Studies; the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors College; the College of Education and Human Services; the Washkewicz College of Engineering; the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs.

The afternoon ceremony began at 2 p.m., with the following 91国产精品 colleges participating: the College of Graduate Studies; the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors College; the Monte Ahuja College of Business; the School of Nursing and the College of Sciences and Health professions.

Newly d茅buted 91国产精品 president Laura J. Bloomberg, Ph.D., who was announced by the 91国产精品 Board of Trustees as the university鈥檚 eighth president on April 26, 2022, expressed elation at the opportunity to convene the graduates during both ceremonies.

[[{"fid":"45704","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"}},"attributes":{"alt":"commencement spring 2022","title":"commencement spring 2022","height":1273,"width":1001,"style":"height: 382px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be more proud of your accomplishments and the spirit of perseverance that brought you to this day,鈥 said Dr. Bloomberg, referring to the 鈥渦nprecedented times鈥 of the last couple of years.

In both ceremonies, Dr. Bloomberg made a point of referring to a poignant quote made famous by the late author/philosopher and 1983 U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom award-winner, Eric Hoffer. A skid-row-to-recovery story, Hoffer鈥檚 words would resonate with graduates attending each of the ceremonies. 

鈥溾橧n times of great change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists,'" Dr. Bloomberg related. She asked graduates to 鈥渂e always a learner,鈥 as she acknowledged the role of the village in the lifelong path of inquiry and curiosity.

鈥淭o the family members and friends here to celebrate these students, and to those of you watching from home, we are glad that you are with us on this special day,鈥 Dr. Bloomberg said. 

Morning keynote, Hon. U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, recounted her own journey being full of challenges and uncertainty鈥攊ncluding her own election, which wasn鈥檛 finalized until days after an election.

[[{"fid":"45705","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"3":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"}},"attributes":{"alt":"commencement spring 2022","title":"commencement spring 2022","height":683,"width":1024,"style":"height: 200px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"3"}}]]鈥淭he road is often unclear and uneven,鈥 Rep. Brown, who represents Ohio鈥檚 11th congressional district and serves as Chairwoman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. 鈥淏ut by staying true to yourself and your personal pursuits, you will make headway towards your final destination鈥攁nd you will arrive stronger because of your trials and tribulations. 

"So whenever the road is hardest, the cynics the loudest, or the personal doubts the strongest, keep pushing forward. Find new ways to overcome the odds. Find new ways to recover from the shortfalls. And find new ways to make progress towards your goals," Rep. Brown said.

Caleb J. Palagyi, one of two University Valedictorians, addressed the audience with a speech about the educational journey, the bridges traveled and orienting to the 鈥淲hat next?鈥 of the moment.

[[{"fid":"45706","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"4":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"}},"attributes":{"alt":"commencement spring 2022","title":"commencement spring 2022","height":683,"width":1024,"style":"height: 200px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"4"}}]]鈥淭he easy choice is to focus on oneself and to just keep trying to make it across the next seemingly impassable path to the next destination,鈥 Palagyi said. 鈥淢ost of us have been told at least once to keep moving forward and that eventually all of these difficulties will be in the rearview mirror and you can forget about them鈥 I ask that you take the time to step back, reflect and look behind 测辞耻.鈥

Palagyi, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Washkewicz College of Engineering, encouraged everyone to remember that overcoming hardships and generosity empowers everyone involved鈥攑articularly those following in the graduates鈥 footsteps.

鈥淭his leaves us with a decision: 鈥榃ill I turn back and build a bridge for another?鈥欌

[[{"fid":"45707","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"5":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"}},"attributes":{"alt":"commencement spring 2022","title":"commencement spring 2022","height":683,"width":1024,"style":"height: 200px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"5"}}]]During the afternoon exercises, Lily M. Ng, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of 91国产精品 and Past Chair of the Chemistry Department, was bestowed a Distinguished Emeritus Faculty Honorary Degree. While not able to join in person, her comments were related by Dr. Bloomberg called on graduates to remember all the 鈥渃hampions鈥 who were in their respective corners during the collegiate journey and to endeavor everything as a mission of commitment. 

Through the president, Dr. Ng. offered her four pillars of advice: 鈥淏e kind, be of service, continue to work hard and persist, and never stop being curious.鈥

Life coach/author and afternoon keynote Tim Alexander recounted having the world by the horns as a student football player who could have played for any college in the country before a life changing car accident in 2006 left him paralyzed from the neck down.

[[{"fid":"45708","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"6":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"}},"attributes":{"alt":"commencement spring 2022","title":"commencement spring 2022","height":683,"width":1024,"style":"height: 200px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"6"}}]]In the years that followed, the motivational speaker earned three degrees, wrote a book 鈥淓ver Faithful Ever Loyal,鈥 became a minister and even won an Emmy award. Alexander challenged any linear thinking in the audience, recounting a rough childhood and excruciating physical rehabilitation after the accident. He asked graduates to approach everything with enthusiasm, hope, positivity and determination.

"Every thank you is an I.O.U.," Alexander said. "People are watching you, looking up to you. Don't stop, winners never quit and there's still so much left to accomplish. Do not allow this [commencement] to be your last achievement. And I challenge you to live a life of resilience, sacrifice and courage. Ask yourself, 'If not me, who? If not now, when?'" 

Now part of the renewed University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alexander encouraged graduates to keep his mantra in mind from this day forward: 鈥淲e don鈥檛 need it to be easy, we just need it to be possible."

[[{"fid":"45709","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"7":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"commencement spring 2022"}},"attributes":{"alt":"commencement spring 2022","title":"commencement spring 2022","height":1536,"width":1024,"style":"height: 450px; width: 300px; float: left;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"7"}}]]Connor M. Mahon, University Valedictorian, College of Sciences and Health Professions and College of Arts and Social Sciences, reflected all the speakers鈥 sentiments in his personal remarks during the afternoon exercises.

鈥淭here are countless students who do not hesitate to be leaders, mentors, and champions for others,鈥 said Mahon. 鈥淧eople who are asking the right questions, creating necessary solutions and doing some amazing things. If you don鈥檛 see yourself reflected in that description, know that it is never too late.鈥

Mahon, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics encouraged graduates to connect with their community.

鈥淣othing happens in isolation. Find your people and make your difference in the world. Nothing is missing. Look around you and give it form,鈥 he concluded, asking grads to remember their resilience and to carry the 91国产精品 experience inside of them as they set forth to what's next.

鈥淥nce a Viking, always a Viking,鈥 Mahon said. 

For a complete news rundown on 91国产精品 Spring 2022 Commencement events, please visit .

Watch the morning Commencement ceremony by following .

Watch the afternoon Commencement ceremony by following .