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University community celebrates class of over 650 on campus

�鶹��Ƶ celebrates the more than 670 students in the Class of 2022 with a pair of commencement ceremonies in front of family and friends at the university’s Physical Education Center.

“Graduates, as you celebrate, also express your gratitude to those who believed in you, sacrificed for you and helped lead you to this significant achievement,” said �鶹��Ƶ President John R. Loyack. “You also have the opportunity to be part of some new traditions at AU to thank those who have helped along the way. You can present your Alvernia stole to someone who supported you and made a difference. You can recognize all who supported you with a picture in front of the wolf. A few of many ways to say thank you for their support.”

Graduates earned associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as the university celebrated a split commencement for the first time in recognition of the new four-college structure. The graduates from the College of Health Sciences and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics were honored during the morning ceremony, while the graduates from the College of Business, Communication and Leadership and the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences were honored during the afternoon ceremony.

“We are the next generation of innovative, smart, capable adults, and we can do anything,” said one of the class of 2022 student speakers Rebekah Machamer. “I don’t just want to stand up here and bore you with my life story, I want you to understand that you are incredible, you can make a difference. You are going to save someone’s life one day, you are going to help that patient walk again, you are going to become a marketing manager and run your own corporation, and you are going to be on the front cover of a magazine for being the best journalist.”

Pennsylvania State Senator Judy Schwank and local entrepreneur and Alvernia trustee Barry Schlouch were presented with honorary degrees during the ceremony. Schwank also provided remarks for both ceremonies.

Each of you has the power to transform the world,” said Schwank. “You have it in your hearts. You have it in your mind. You hold it in your hands. Go out and be that agent of transformational change. Please, our community needs you, our Commonwealth needs you, our nation, indeed, our world needs each and every one of you to do her and his part.”