Under the Arch

A POWERFUL MESSAGE: ALUMNUS ADDRESSES GRADS, FAMILIES

Quoting historical figures such as John Adams and Winston Churchill, Sunday’s Winter Commencement keynote speaker focused on the themes of leadership, ethics, and values.

“It takes courage to be a leader,” Thomas F. Power, Jr., Gannon class of 1963, told the graduates and their families. “It means that sometimes you have to make difficult decisions. But a leader believes in himself and trusts in his judgment.”

Power, a member of the Gannon Board of Trustees, was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree. “It is most fitting that Gannon University expresses its appreciation and commendation as today we honor an alumnus who has modeled his life and leadership in business, community, and church on Gannon University’s mission in its fullest measure,” said Gannon President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.

Garibaldi conferred 323 degrees during the ceremony. The graduates included two doctoral degree recipients, 244 master’s, 71 bachelor’s, and six associate’s. In terms of honors, 151 students graduated with distinction; there also were four summa cum laude graduates, nine magna cum laude, five cum laude, and one who graduated with academic honors.

Power enjoyed a long and successful career in the railroad industry. In the mid-1980s, he co-founded Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation, based in Rosemont, Ill.

He recently retired as president and CEO of Wisconsin Central, which in 2001 agreed to be acquired by Canadian National Railway.

Yesterday, Power spoke about the love he had for his work. “If you can't wait to get there (a job) in the morning, you might want to think about doing something else,” he said.

Leaders, he said, have a professional will to excel as well as a sense of humility. “Leaders are never boastful,” he said. “A leader doesn't look in the mirror to congratulate himself. Rather, he looks out the window to see what might be (improved).

“The ultimate example to look to is Christ," he added. “He has endured for 2000 years.”

Power left the graduates with a quote from Churchill. At the time of Churchill's quote, London was being bombed heavily by enemy forces. “This is not the end, and it is not even the beginning of the end,” Churchill said, imploring Britons to remain hopeful. “But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

A number of faculty and staff assisted with the ceremony.

Garibaldi welcomed the graduates and their families and awarded Power the honorary degree.

Donna Dalton, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, gave the Call to Commencement.

Dalton and Michael J. O’Neill, dean of graduate studies, recognized the degree recipients.

Rev. Nicholas J. Rouch, vice president for mission and ministry, performed the benediction.

Faculty marshals were Marjorie Krebs, Ph.D., and Monsignor Addison Yehl, Ph.D.

The Rev. George Strohmeyer, university chaplain, gave the invocation.

Kate Neubert performed the opening song.

OUR EVENTS

Monday-Friday, Dec. 15-19 – Finals week.
Sunday, December 21 – Merton Advent Lecture Series: Scheduled for 7 p.m. in room 101 of the Zurn. Patrick O’Connell, associate professor of English and theology, will present “The Stars Stand in a Ring: Thomas Merton’s Marian Poetry.” O’Connell is a founding member and former president of the International Thomas Merton Society.
Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve Mass: 7 p.m. in the Chapel.
Monday, January 5 – Hooked on Books!: Reading begins at the Neighborhood Art House, 201 East Tenth Street. Offered from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Call ext. 7447 for more information.
Thursday, January 8 – International New Student Orientation: 2:30 p.m. in room 1200 of the Palumbo Center. Call ext. 7030 for information.
Sunday, January 11 – Transfer Student Welcome Mass: 11 a.m. in the Chapel.
Monday, January 12 – First day of spring semester classes.
Thursday, January 15 – Community Mass: 11 a.m. in the Chapel.
"Our Events" is intended to serve as a sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Cheryl Rink. David Eschenbach. Richard Zack. Donna Cessna. Mary Crane. Laura Figurski. Scott Stevens. Stan Zagorski. Britt Daehnke. Janice Sitter. Kevin Hart. Mary Sibley. Tony Fulgenzio. Mike O'Neill. Beth Shick. Jennifer Mailey. Melissa Fisher. Sandy Driscoll. Cristina Shaw. Rosanne Tupek. Rev. Casimir Wozniak. Thomas Lieb. James Tracy. Doug Zimmerman. Yvonne Wright. Carol Peterson. Perry Hilburn. Stephen Haeseler. Don Holl. Joseph Dimperio. James Vogel. Janet Armbruster. Emmett Lombard. Patrick Barlow. Sally LeVan. Harvey Long. Blanche Lozar. Joe Luckey. Edward Hawley.

THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE

Monday, December 15 – Charlene Begley, CEO, GE Transportation Systems, Campus Visit and Speech to Engineering Students. Wednesday, December 17 – United Way of Erie County Board Meeting; President’s Staff and Provost’s Council Christmas Reception. Thursday, December 18 –

Wheeling Jesuit University Board Meeting. Friday, December 19 – Civic Coordinating Committee (C-cubed) Meeting; College of Humanities, Business, and Education Christmas Party. Saturday, December 20 – Gannon women’s and men’s basketball vs. Daemen College.

TIDBITS:

Offer your congratulations to Scott Miller, assistant professor in the accounting program. Scott's wife, Holly, gave birth to a baby girl, Abigail, on Dec. 10. Abigail weighed five pounds and eight ounces. Mother and baby are doing well.
The Office of New Student Services asks faculty and staff to encourage students to apply for positions as Summer 2004 Orientation Advisors. Applications are available in the New Student Services Office and should be returned by Friday, January 30. For more information or questions, call ext. 7596.
Wish good luck to Jennifer Dobbs Woods, advancement coordinator. Woods has accepted a position as director of alumni and special programs at La Roche College.
From now through Dec. 19, Gannon's Schuster Gallery will feature the work of local artist Lee Steadman. Many of Steadman’s paintings showcase Erie’s beautiful natural landscapes. His work has been featured at, among others, The Smithsonian Institution, the New York State Museum of Natural History, and the Staten Island Institute of Art and Science. The Gallery is located on the third floor of Nash Library and is open during regular library hours.