Under the Arch

GANNON CONFERS 626 DEGREES DURING COMMENCEMENT

Gannon on Saturday conferred 626 degrees during its Spring Commencement ceremony, held at Tullio Arena.

Four graduates were awarded doctoral degrees in counseling psychology; 204 were awarded master’s degrees; 388 were awarded bachelor’s degrees, and 30 were awarded associate’s degrees.

Including graduates from August and December 2003, the degrees awarded on Saturday bring Gannon’s 2003-04 graduating class to 972. Of those students, 264 graduated with distinction, 46 graduated summa cum laude, 81 magna cum laude, 65 cum laude, and 12 with academic honors.

Prior to Saturday’s main ceremony, two Gannon University ROTC graduates were commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army. James Nemec, branched field artillery, will be working at Gannon University as a Gold Bar Recruiter with his next assignment at Fort Sill, Okla. Patrick Doyle, branched infantry, will be serving as a second lieutenant at Warrior Forge, located at Fort Lewis, Wash.

The Honorable Sean O’Keefe, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), gave the keynote address. The university awarded O’Keefe an honorary doctor of laws degree, given by Gannon President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.

“In the years ahead each of you will have an opportunity to help make America a better place for all her citizens,” O’Keefe told the graduates and their families. “You can help us protect our homeland security, promote democracy abroad, fight new and deadly diseases, enhance environmental quality, improve our schools, better the lot of those less fortunate, and advance economic and technological progress.

“I'm also very excited that as the second century of flight unfolds, those of you who will pursue science and technology careers will help carry the torch of exploration to heights unimagined and into frontiers unknown,” he added.

A number of Gannon faculty, staff, and administrators participated in the ceremony.

Serving as faculty marshals were Sally LeVan, Ph.D., and Thomas Upton, Ph.D.

In addition to O’Keefe and Garibaldi, other members of the dais party were the Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman, S.T.D., S.S.L., Bishop, Diocese of Erie and chairperson of the Gannon University Board of Trustees; Donna Dalton, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs; Timothy Downs, Ph.D., dean, College of Humanities, Business, and Education; Hamid Torab, Ph.D., PE, dean, College of Sciences, Engineering, and Health Sciences; Michael O’Neill, J.D., dean, Graduate Studies; Rev. Nicholas J. Rouch, S.T.D., vice president for mission and ministry; Rev. George Strohmeyer, university chaplain; Ward H. McCracken, dean, Student Development; Linda Wagner, vice president, Finance and Administration; Susan Black-Keim, vice president, University Advancement; Russell Forquer, president, Gannon University National Alumni Association; Thomas Parthenakis, Ph.D., president, Gannon Faculty Senate; and Richard Julius, president, Gannon Student Government Association.

Dalton welcomed the graduates and their families to Tullio Arena.

Gannon graduate Christine LeBlanc and current Gannon student Brandie M. Atkins led the singing.

Strohmeyer led the opening prayer. Bishop Trautman performed the benediction.

Downs and Torab announced the graduates for their respective colleges, and O’Neill announced the doctoral and master’s degree recipients.

OUR EVENTS

Tuesday, May 11 – Administrative Professionals Day breakfast/program: Continental breakfast and presentation by Kathy Iorio of the Hamot Wellness Center. Offered from 8 to 10 a.m. in Waldron 219. For office support staff. Call ext. 7145 for more information.
Monday, May 24 – Gannon Community Meeting for Faculty and Staff: Scheduled for 8 a.m. in the Yehl Room. A continental breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. Updates on the budget and enrollment will be provided.
Thursday, May 27 – 17th annual Erie Scholarship Golf Tournament: To be held at Lake Shore Country Club. Proceeds provide tuition assistance for qualified Gannon students. Call ext. 7473 for more information.
Friday, June 4 – Gannon University's Erie Chamber Orchestra: Featuring soloist Jacqueline Black (cello). Offered at 7:30 p.m. at Saint Patrick Church, 130 East Fourth Street. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday, June 8 – Gannon University Distinguished Pennsylvanian Dinner: Honoring Pat Monahan of Train, U.S. Rep. Phil English, and Ruth Burton of Burton Funeral Homes. Call ext. 7473 for more information.
Friday, June 11 – Gannon University Family Picnic: Offered from 5 to 9 p.m. More information to follow.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Father Robert Susa. Dave Steiner. Fred Beil. Thomas Wager. Rebecca Curtis. Richard Bukowski. Ned Lottie. Denise Winschel. Michelle Homan. David McGarvey. Rebecca Byars. Steven Figurski. Richard Altmire. Dawn Denning. Anita Hotchkiss. Kenneth Kendzior. Kimberle Janosky. Sgt. Thomas Vanderlip. Denise Simon. David Marino. Cornell Petty. Carl Hultman. Melanie Parker. Bobbi Jo Fye. Carrie Gunter. David States. Elizabeth Garloch. Nancy Kelly. Scott Miller. Jana Hunt. Deb Peffer.

THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE

Wednesday, May 12 – Physical Therapy site visit (May 12-14). Thursday, May 13 – Administrative Professionals Day breakfast/program. Friday, May 14 – Catholic Charities Ball. Sunday, May 16 – NYU Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka 50^th Anniversary Conference (May 16-19).

DID YOU KNOW?

Please mark your calendar to attend the next Gannon Community Meeting for Faculty and Staff, to be held Monday, May 24 in the Yehl Room. A continental breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m.; the meeting will begin at 8 a.m. Topics to be covered include an update on the budget and enrollment information that will be shared with the Board of Trustees on Friday, May 21.
Special thanks to Gannon colleagues for their continued assistance with media interviews. Donna Dalton, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, did an interview with Kara Rhodes of the Erie Times-News on the continued viability of 8 a.m. classes. The story was prompted by Duke University’s (N.C.) decision to eliminate those classes.
Now that the academic year is concluded, Under the Arch will revert to its summer production schedule and will be published every other Monday. Under the Arch will be posted to the Gannon portal on those Mondays when it is issued. Please note that it always can be accessed from the university’s intranet, located at http://intranet.gannon.edu/.