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May 15, 2017The College of Saint Rose Celebrates 94th Commencement
From adolescence in Zambia, Edson Chipalo laid plans to enter the classroom and immerse himself in his studies, even as he scrambled to light his house and feed himself.
As an 8-year-old growing up in the South Bronx, a brain aneurysm almost cut short Patience Cournoo’s young life.
For two years, Swathi Thatiparthy has missed the feeling of her 7-year-old daughter’s arms wrapped around her, as Swathi left her child at home in India to study at Saint Rose.
They along with more than 1,500 of their classmates rejoiced in their resilience and willpower as The College of Saint Rose celebrated its 94th Annual Commencement.
In a ceremony today at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York, Saint Rose awarded bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certificates of advanced study from its School of Arts and Humanities, Huether School of Business, Thelma P. Lally School of Education and School of Mathematics and Sciences.
More than 6,000 graduates and families, plus Saint Rose faculty and staff, cheered on the Class of 2017. Today’s degree recipients hail from 18 states and 22 countries. They join more than 42,000 alumni of Saint Rose living in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and 35 countries.
Eve Burton, senior vice president and general counsel of Hearst, received an honorary degree as approved by the board of trustees and delivered the commencement address.
The College also bestowed the Carondelet Medal, its highest honor, on Sister Charleen Bloom, CSJ, Ph.D. for her extraordinary service to Saint Rose and the world community.
In addition, the College bestowed The J. Spencer and Patricia Hunter Standish ’50, G’57 Endowed Chair in English on Dr. Jennifer Marlow, associate professor of English.
Saint Rose President Dr. Carolyn J. Stefanco kicked off the ceremony with a new tradition: a stage full of flags.
“The flags you see on the stage this year begin a new tradition where we honor all the countries of origin of the Class of 2017. They are meant to symbolize our pride in you and in our institution’s efforts to champion global connectedness,” Stefanco explained.
Stefanco also urged the new graduates to stay resilient.
“The way you approach setbacks and overcome hurdles will make all the difference. My hope for you is that you will hold onto your memories of those times at Saint Rose when you pushed past the idea that you are not ‘good enough,’ and you finished that paper or project and made that presentation. Those experiences made you stronger and taught you about the importance of perseverance,” Stefanco said.
As head of the Hearst Office of General Counsel, Burton leads a dedicated initiative to the ongoing protection of First Amendment rights for its journalists and the preservation of a free press. In her address, she urged the graduates to be their own investigative reporters, especially in an age of “fake news” and false versions of the world.
“Do not let the rhetoric of others, convincing and easy as it may sound, define your understanding of the world,” Burton implored. “Demand proof. Verify facts. No matter how often an opinion is thunderously repeated, remember that it does not magically morph into a fact – it remains an opinion, a mere assertion, until the facts from many sides are brought to bear and sifted through the prism of critical thinking.”
“Our republic needs the energy and talent of the Class of 2017 to take on the issues of our time armed with facts. Be it climate change, medical advancements, scientific research, vast income inequalities, persistent racial and gender barriers, the threat of never ending wars, a balanced federal budget or an upgraded infrastructure, you are our best hope for a better world. Armed with facts, and guided by the moral education you received at Saint Rose, you are supremely qualified to challenge power with facts,” Burton concluded.
In a distinguished career at Saint Rose and beyond, Sister Charleen Bloom, CSJ, has improved the lives of countless individuals who stutter or experience other communication disorders. As author, speaker and innovator, Sister Char, as she is known, has influenced speech and language pathologists to look beyond the disorder and at the individual. Under Sister Char’s leadership, the College also grew into an important center for learning about, and treating, the communication impairments that make it difficult for some people to interact effectively in society. Sister Char’s pioneering workshops on stuttering have become a national model.
The J. Spencer and Patricia Hunter Standish ’50, G’57 Endowed Chair in English honors the accomplishment of an English faculty member demonstrating exceptional scholarship through a research project designed to enhance the learning experience of students in the College’s English Department. The chair honors Patricia’s lifelong commitment to the study and teaching of literature and the continuing values of English study in the 21st century.
