Class of 2023 Advised to ‘Keep Doing You’
大雨, 寒冷的温度, and ceremonies moving to the Flood Arena could not dampen the joy of hundreds of 贝洛伊特ers and their families at Commencement on May 14. The degree-earning seniors had persevered through the Covid-19 pandemic, which began during their first year at 贝洛伊特, so they took the cloudy, 从容面对雨天.
A bittersweet final ceremony for Bierman
After a 14-year legacy, President Scott Bierman started his remarks by pulling out a flamingo-print cotton shirt, 开玩笑说, along with matching shorts, his retirement outfit was set. But he quickly turned reflective. “I look out at so many friends right in front of me whose futures are so bright and whose last four years have made a difference at this college, who have changed this college, changed the people to your left and right, changed the people to your front and back, 改变了我,比尔曼说. “It takes my breath away.”
为了更大的利益
Health and society major Nichole Espineli received the Martha Peterson Prize for her strong work ethic and commitment to the 贝洛伊特 community. Sister Gephany was awed by Nichole, who hopes to pursue graduate studies in public health and focus on helping immigrants and refugees. “We are really proud of her, being the first in our family to graduate from college,” Gephany says.
微笑和快乐
A loud cheer went up as Devin Pittman received the Warren Miller Blue Skies Award. Pittman’s huge smile and contagious laugh brought joy across campus. A studio art major and theatre minor from Chicago, Pittman guided his classmates through the ceremony as a senior class officer and was a leader in the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, 黑人学生联合会, and the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA).
要记住的忠告
Rock County Equity Manager Dr. Atiera Coleman’10 was slated to give the Commencement address but was forced to cancel at the last moment. Her mentor, assistant professor Dr. 索尼娅·玛丽亚·约翰逊, stepped in and summarized Coleman’s prepared remarks. “Embrace the challenges that come your way and never give up on being your true, unapologetic self. You, as you are right now, are the key to all of your future successes. 继续做你自己.”
引领潮流
Student speaker Jada Daniel’s emotional words touched on her classmates’ roller coaster four years, reminding her of the changing of the seasons. “Wherever life plants us, whether it’s the season of harvest and abundance or a season of unforgiving storms of heartbreak and loss, 贝洛伊特 has taught us that we are planted firmly and will always bloom with grace,”她说。. “So, as we look to the future, may we continue to accept every storm with grace and let it water us and the seeds we plant for our futures.“丹尼尔, who triple majored in critical identity studies, 政治科学, 和社会学, graduated summa cum laude. After the ceremony, she led the class of 2023 back outside as the clouds began to lift.
活在当下
Some 贝洛伊特 families travel thousands of miles to see their graduate cross the stage. A dozen of biology and health and society double major Madison Moser’s family members arrived from Alaska at 1:30 a.m. Sunday to see her receive her diploma. “It is hard to make the trip, so it’s great that they could make it for this big moment,” Moser said.
