Undergraduate Admissions

Saturday, May 9, 2009 -- Suzanne Malveaux recalls competing, as a “late-blooming athlete,” in a triathlon in Wisconsin.

During the first portion of the event, a swim in Lake Pewaukee, she struggled mightily as thick seaweed began to wrap around her legs.

Malveaux, who admitted being in over her head, was not among the top finishers. Still, she was encouraged by the fact that she was able to complete what – for anyone – had been an intense, demanding, and physically grueling competition.

In an inspiring keynote address during Gannon University’s May Commencement ceremony, Malveaux passed on a number of life lessons, among them: don’t stress unnecessarily over bottom line results.

“Don’t be afraid to be last,” said Malveaux, a White House correspondent for CNN and primary substitute anchor for “The Situation Room,” hosted by Wolf Blitzer. Malveaux was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree during the ceremony.

“Returning to cross the finish line is what’s really important.”

During Saturday’s Commencement, held at Erie’s Tullio Arena, 816 students metaphorically crossed the finish line by earning their degrees. Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., conferred 45 doctor of physical therapy degrees, three doctoral degrees, 330 master’s degrees, 411 bachelor’s degrees, and 27 associate’s degrees.

Of the class, 49 students graduated summa cum laude, 79 magna cum laude, 81 cum laude, and seven with academic honors.

Including the graduates from Gannon’s December Commencement, 1,150 students earned degrees for the 2008-09 academic year, the largest number ever for the Gannon University.

Malveaux told the graduates how, when weighing her own career options, she considered going to medical school and becoming a doctor. She decided instead to pursue a career in journalism because “my heart was into telling stories.”

Her advice to the graduates:

• Don’t be afraid to listen to your heart – Life is often a struggle between what our heads tell us is the safe and prudent course of action, and what we passionately believe in our hearts, Malveaux said. “There almost always is something deep within us that beckons us to another calling,” she said. “Even during these hard economic times when jobs and our futures are uncertain, you will likely never be as unburdened as you are today – to truly pursue your dreams.”

• Keep tabs on what it is you’ve become – Some young graduates become so engrossed in their work and in building a successful career that they lose sight of what really matters in life, Malveaux said. Ambitions and aspirations sometimes can cloud one's thinking. “Don’t succumb to the pull to become something you are not,” she added. “To be sure, it will be a struggle sometimes to remain the person who you are in your core.”

• Seek inspiration from those around you – Occasionally, one’s faith will be tested. “We can survive just about any hardship and overcome just about any burden if we keep our faith that God has a plan for us,” she counseled.

• Don't forget to give something back – “As you leave this campus for the last time as a student, one of the greatest lessons you should take with you is not an obscure fact from history, knowledge about solving algebraic equations, or the name of an element on the periodic table,” she counseled. “The greatest lesson is one that can be found in the simple yet profound words of Acts 20:35, it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Dr. Garibaldi congratulated the Class of 2009 and wished them much success and God’s blessings. He also passed along some advice to the new graduates.

“There is no question that your Gannon degree will significantly improve your chances for that first or next job,” he said, “but you will also need to be open to accepting some jobs that may not seem to fit your ideal career planning track. Sometimes the path to the top is direct and very linear – from entry-level to mid-level to senior level to CEO.

“But at other times the path to the top is a winding, circuitous and occasionally accidental route,” he continued. “There is no perfect path for the future success you expect to achieve in your profession. But I am very confident that the majority of you will achieve the same remarkable success that a large number of Gannon and Villa Maria College alumni have already achieved. So, graduates, be prepared to use and apply your talents well and take advantage of all the unexpected opportunities that will come your way.”