Chancellor Kevin Snider conferred degrees to 103 graduates on May 14 at the 52nd spring commencement exercises at Penn State New Kensington.
David Ciesinski, group vice president and chief marketing officer for Heinz U.S. Consumer Products, a business unit of the H.J. Heinz Company, delivered the commencement address, "The Journey Ahead," and Lorri Wildi, president of the Alle-Kiski Society, inducted the new graduates into the Penn State Alumni Association.
Fourteen undergraduate students were awarded degrees with highest distinction, high distinction, and distinction, based on their cumulative grade point average. Graduates with highest distinction were Timothy P. Baxter, Alecia V. Denillo, Melissa A. Gemballa, Elizabeth A. Koebler, Katie L. Shoemaker and Erika L. Watson. Those with high distinction included Michelle L. Flaherty, Karen R. Kohut, Andrew J. Tsou, Olga Zinkovsky and Terri L. Zulawinski. Degrees with distinction were awarded to Jaclyn M. Burkett, Maxim Pascal and Joshua L. Vogel.
With a blend of personal anecdotes and timeless advice, Ciesinski prepared the new Penn Staters for life after college, what he called their journey ahead. He shared observations from his journey that started upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and dispensed four pieces of advice for their journey.
Cielinski stressed the value of defining your guiding principles, pursuing your dreams, gaining the courage to confront challenges, and preparing for the unexpected. He presented his advice on courage in the context of the challenges that face the country, the commonwealth and the community.
According to Ciesinski, some of the Penn State grads will have the opportunity to work on the diverse challenges that afflict our country as whole, "such as bolstering up our national security or wrangling down our national debt," while others will work on challenges that afflict our commonwealth, "such as fighting crime or providing affordable health care."
"All of you will be presented with opportunities to work on challenges that afflict our communities, such as feeding the hungry and helping to provide shelter to the homeless," said Ciesinski, a resident of Sewickley, Pennsylvania. "Independent of whether you’re serving our country, our commonwealth, or your community, seek to be a courageous beacon of strength in the pursuit of justice and equality. For this courage will give your life purpose and make our world a better place."
What began in 1960 with 28 men earning associate degrees at the New Kensington campus has evolved into 105 men and women receiving master's, bachelor's and associate degrees. Since that inaugural class, more than 10,000 alumni have attended Penn State New Kensington and earned a Penn State degree.
For the full text of the commencement address and a list of graduates, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/43811.htm online.