Twenty-nine student received their degrees in nine academic areas on Friday, Dec. 15, in the Student Union Building Auditorium.
Penn State Beaver's fall class of 2017 has officially graduated.
Twenty-nine student received their degrees in nine academic areas on Friday, Dec. 15, in the Student Union Building Auditorium.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence to remember Beaver's longtime food services employee Lesli Kelly, who was killed in a tragic incident on Wednesday.
The remainder of the ceremony focused squarely on the students and their achievements. Amanda Leseman, an administration of justice major who graduated with honors and a semester early, delivered the student address, urging fellow students to remember their beginnings as their time at Beaver came to its end.
Jack Manning, the president and executive director of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, served as the keynote speaker. He reminded students that they will learn as much from their failures as they will from their successes. He also urged them to remain optimistic about their futures and to focus their energy on that which they can control.
"There are a whole lot of things that we have no control over in the world," Manning said. "Some are pretty scary. I tend to spend my energy on those things I can control and maybe influence a bit and set an example for my family. I am always reminded of the Edward Everett Hale quote: 'I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.'"
