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Commencement Weekend 2010



Spring Commencement exercises for Wesley College came to a close on May 8 after the conferring of degrees to the 235 graduates among the Class of 2010. The students participating in the outdoor ceremony at the Dashiell Amphitheatre collectively completed 24 associate’s degrees, 183 bachelor’s degrees and 18 master’s degrees.

Prior to Saturday morning’s Commencement ceremony, the Baccalaureate Service was held late afternoon Friday in the Wesley Chapel and was followed by a reception for graduates and their families at the home of President and Mrs. Johnston. New to the Baccalaureate tradition this year was the presentation of honor medallions and stoles. Honor medallions were given to graduates of the Honors Program, the most rigorous curriculum at the College, for those having demonstrated outstanding achievement in their discipline. Students who participated in a study abroad experience or who were active in Greek life through a fraternity or sorority had the opportunity to order special stoles representing their country of study or their Greek letters. Kente stoles, representing African ancestry, were also made available to multicultural graduates. Each student recipient designated a family member, faculty member, mentor or friend to personally present their medallion or stole at the Baccalaureate service. During the presentation, Dean of Students Mary-Alice Ozechoski lauded students’ individual achievements in academics, involvement in student organizations and community service.

Also on Friday of graduation weekend, the Nursing Department held its annual Pinning Ceremony at 7 p.m. at the Schwartz Center for the Arts. The Department recognized 46 graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Special honors were awarded to Angela Cellucci, recipient of The Keeper of the Light Award as well as the Spirit of Nursing Award and Carmen Garcia, recipient of the Nightingale Award.

As Saturday’s 137th Spring Commencement ceremony unfolded, a number of special guests were among the presenters, including The Honorable Thomas R. Carper, United States Senator. As part of the Wesley Commencement tradition, Carper brought greetings to the graduates. Bishop Peggy Johnson also provided greetings on behalf of the United Methodist Church. Jeffrey Brown, Senior News Corespondent for PBS NewsHour, delivered the Commencement address. Both Johnson and Brown were bestowed honorary degrees, presented by Rev. Dr. James T. Seymour and Charles R. Dashiell of the College’s Board of Trustees.

Brown, having received a liberal arts degree in classics from UC Berkeley before continuing on to law school and earning a master’s from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, praised the value of a liberal arts education and the “unexpected ways” in which it would benefit the graduates during their lives. During his career of more than twenty years at the NewsHour, Brown has conducted studio discussions, served as a substitute nightly news anchor and reported from the field on a wide array of domestic and international stories. He is the creator and host of "Art Beat,” the NewsHour's online arts and culture blog. As a correspondent and producer, he has received numerous honors for his work, including an Emmy and five Cine Golden Eagle Awards.

In his message to the newest Wesley alumni, Brown quoted a line from Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, referencing “the content of one’s character.” He emphasized the increasing significance of “content” and its application to various media platforms in today’s world of gadgets and with our society’s strong dependence on technology. He urged the new graduates to not lose sight of the important messages behind the communication tools they use, the reasons why they are communicating, and to show “the content of their character” in making a difference in the world around them. After his address, Brown was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters by President Johnston and the Board of Trustees.

The College also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity to Johnson. As a bishop of the United Methodist Church, Johnson is a leader among congregations in the Philadelphia area, encompassing nearly 1,000 churches in the Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware conferences. The impact of her 30 years of ministry has been both national and international in scope, as she advocates for the deaf and those who have disabilities.

During the ceremony, graduate and president of the Student Government Association Amberlyn Oldham presented remarks from the Senior Class. “This school will be a part of us forever, whether it be on resumes, when we apply for graduate schools or in general life,” said Oldham. “We all will go out into the world and wherever we may go we will remember that Wesley College is where we grew as leaders and where we made a book of memories.”

After the various degrees were conferred and diplomas were awarded, Dr. Jeffrey Gibson, convenor of the faculty, presented the 2010 Faulty Award to graduate Matthew Gallagher, and Dr. Malcom D’Souza, professor of chemistry, awarded Anthony Darrington the Undergraduate Award in Environmental Chemistry. Lynn Schmid Knable ’67, vice president of the Alumni Association, took the stage to offer some parting words before the ceremony concluded.

“As you travel along your life’s journey, may you always find the road home to Wesley, for you are Wesley, I am Wesley, we are Wesley,” Knable said. Soon after, the excited graduates tossed their caps and processed out to greet their families and friends and bask in the celebration of their accomplishments. For the Class of 2010, the graduation ceremony may have been the final chapter in their Wesley College careers, but it marked only the beginning of a lifelong connection for the newest members of the Wesley College Alumni Association.

To view the photo albums of Commencement, Baccalaureate and the Nursing Pinning Ceremony, please click here.