More than 100 individuals marked a milestone in their lives May 9 as Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Charles Patrick conferred academic degrees during the 45th commencement ceremony at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
In his remarks that morning at the campus Community Center, Patrick spoke of beginnings and endings.
“Commencement or `to commence’ is defined as a beginning or a start. But you’re really at a pivotal moment in your lives with both a beginning and a conclusion,” he noted. “It’s a beginning because you stand on the threshold of the rest of your lives. Today, however, we’re actually celebrating the conclusion of your long journey to this pivotal moment.”
Keynote speaker Deborah Rice-Johnson, president of Highmark Health Plan for Highmark Inc., told the graduation candidates about three “to be’s” that could positively impact their lives and careers. “I will be speaking about the importance and benefits of being curious and imaginative, of being courageous and resilient, and of being your authentic and extraordinary self and how these traits can work for you in all facets of life,” said Rice-Johnson.
Also addressing the commencement audience were two outstanding students. Johanna M. Bullard represented the group being awarded bachelor’s degrees and Michael R. Donaldson spoke for the candidates about to receive associate degrees. Donaldson likened education to a passport and said, “Today we are receiving our passports. Continue to add destinations, and never stop preparing for the future.” Bullard also implored her fellow graduates to keep growing — and not just for their benefit. She said, “We now all have a sense of accomplishment and should use our education to help improve the lives of others.”
After the awarding of diplomas, Penn State Fayette Alumni Society President Seth Prentice took the stage to induct the new graduates into the Penn State Alumni Association.
Following a benediction by campus pastor Gwen Shoaf and a recessional to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” by the VFW Post 8543 band, members of the Penn State Fayette Class of 2015 celebrated their educational achievement at a reception in the campus Community Center.
Honors group
Distinction at graduation is awarded to baccalaureate degree candidates with at least 60 credits and associate degree candidates with at least 30 credits earned at Penn State who are in the top 12 percent of a graduating class.
-- with highest distinction:Johanna M. Bullard, CharleroiMichael R. Donaldson, Carmichaels
-- with high distinction:Nicole L. Albert, NormalvilleNoah J. E. Pfuntner, DunbarSandra S. Robertson, GatesAshley N. Smeltzer, Mount Pleasant
-- with distinction:Daryl A. Crow, Moundsville, West VirginiaWade S. Durbin, GraysvilleLucy J. Hlatky, SmithfieldHeather L. Rattay, FairchanceBrianna C. Zinn, Uniontown
Associate degrees
BUILDING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGYGrim, Zachary M., Wind RidgeOpel, Ryan M., BrownsvilleZinn, Brianna C., Uniontown
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONDoyle, Casey L., WashingtonLee, Makenzie E., HopwoodLewis, Adam M., CarmichaelsMurray, Derek A., Fairchance
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGYBaker, Sabrina D., ConnellsvilleDonaldson, Michael R., CarmichaelsDurbin, Wade S., GraysvilleGroff, Robert E., ConnellsvilleKirby, Matthew C., DunbarKurutz, Garrett K., DunbarLiddick, Michael R., NormalvilleMatthews, Christopher J., Lemont FurnaceO'Neal, Steven R., DunbarPfuntner, Noah J. E., DunbarPindro, Christopher P., HopwoodPollo, Nicholas W., HoustonSmalley, Andrew J., DunbarZitney, Lacy J., Vanderbilt
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIESBower, Teresa M., Connellsville
LETTERS, ARTS AND SCIENCESLiddick, Donald D., Normalville
MINING TECHNOLOGYBeiler, Aaron J., IndianaCollins, Yadin O., LawrenceCrow, Daryl A., Moundsville, W.Va.Culp, Leandro E., ClarksvilleFincham, Roy T., FinleyvilleGiannini, Grant D., ElizabethHyatt, William B., CarmichaelsLaschen, Brent C., BrownsvilleLhota, Daniel P., LatrobeMowry, Joseph E., Mill RunMoyer, Christopher A., BentleyvilleNewbrough, Zachary J., Worthington, W.Va.Palone, Vincent C., Rices LandingSnyder, Charles E., SmithfieldSumego, Edward J., WashingtonZeglen, Mateusz S., Rices Landing
NURSINGAddis, William B., UniontownCafasso, Stacy M., NormalvilleCarson, Corin R., DawsonColebank, Martha R., Point MarionCrail, Brittany A., ScottdaleCrow, Crystal L., RepublicDelestienne, Tracie L., Fayette CityGrimm, Ashlie B., SmithfieldGruss, Carly R., JohnstownGuthrie, Caycee D., MarkleysburgHarvey, Amy C., Point MarionHensell, Rebecca G., Point MarionJohnson, Kaitlyn E., SmockJolly, Jalissa H., AcmeLambert, Kathleen S., State CollegeLaskey, Britanni M., DawsonMoore, Rachel A., West NewtonPierce, Maria A., UniontownPotkul, Kelly E., UniontownRanker, Megan M., ConnellsvilleReskovac, Sheilah K., WaltersburgSchroyer, Sierra J., Connellsville
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTBreckenridge, Emily M., RockwoodEpps, Whitney M., UniontownEutsey, Haylie M., NormalvilleHefner, Laura R., Bridgeport, W.Va.Huston, Kelly M., UniontownMascioli, Peter J., UniontownNovak, Sarah R., FairbankRandall, Mark J., North CharleroiReagan, Gary D., HopwoodSchroyer, Erica L., ConnellsvilleSeliga, Brianna N., SmockSpellman Jr., Robert J., HopwoodUphold, Christopher J., McClellandtownVorrasi, Jordan L., Connellsville
Bachelor's degrees
BACHELOR OF ARTSADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICEGroover, Joshua M., SmithfieldHorvath, Joshua A., UniontownLiddick, Donald D., NormalvilleLocke, Lori B., Lemont FurnacePerkins, Robert W., Uniontown
BACHELOR OF SCIENCEADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICEBlocker, Courtney E., ConnellsvilleBradigan, Kristina M., ConnellsvilleChambliss, Randy B., UniontownConticelli, Adam J., McClellandtownDiamond, Kevin T., WaltersburgErickson, Seth E., UniontownKnauer, Ashley M., SalisburyMeans, Mathew S., Lemont FurnaceRattay, Heather L., FairchanceRoycroft, Matthew L., Lemont FurnaceSampson, Benjamin J., UniontownVolek, Catherine E., Smithfield
BACHELOR OF SCIENCEBUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONBronder, Jacob A., Jefferson HillsEspey, Sarah E., ScottdaleHlatky, Lucy J., SmithfieldJenkins, Dierre W., UniontownJones, Derek M., GrindstoneKonter, Emily, BrownsvilleLee, Samantha C., UniontownMcNulty, Caitlin E., HunkerMorris, Jacob R., WaynesburgNicolo, Tyler P., ConnellsvillePalmer, James W., SmithfieldWasik, Frances S., Hopwood
BACHELOR OF ARTSENGLISHYuhaniak, Billie J., Mount Braddock
BACHELOR OF SCIENCEHUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIESBowlen, Amber J., SmithfieldCumberland, Kaytee A., LeisenringFortuna, Casey L., BrownsvilleGuthrie, Jillian, VanderbiltLongo, Stephanie M., Point MarionRobertson, Sandra S., AdahSimmons, Angela, UniontownSlack, Amanda L., IrwinTesta, Sarah A., UniontownVirgillo, Samantha J., DunbarZuzak, Lauren D., Brownsville
BACHELOR OF SCIENCENURSINGAlbert, Nicole L., NormalvilleBrown, Mary K., ConnellsvilleBullard, Johanna M., CharleroiCaldwell, Emily E., Belle VernonCavanaugh, Carrie L., ConnellsvilleChristopher, Bethany L., Belle VernonGottschalk, Laurali S., IrwinNickle, Heather D., OhiopyleSchatz, Deborah J., Lake LynnShogan, Jamie J., GreensburgSmeltzer, Ashley N., Mount PleasantWhipkey, Sherri L., Connellsville
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE SOFTWARE ENGINEERINGTennant, Marcus R., Carmichaels