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Penn State Behrend awarded 669 undergraduate and graduate degrees at two outdoor ceremonies on Saturday, May 8. The ceremonies were held at the Behrend soccer stadium, with COVID safety protocols in place for the duration of each program.
The graduates also were honored during Penn State’s virtual commencement program. A recording of that program can be viewed at https://virtual.commencement.psu.edu/.
At Behrend, in chairs spaced six feet apart, the graduates heard from Chancellor Ralph Ford, who discussed the unique circumstances of this academic year and the perseverance of the Class of 2021.
“You should never doubt that you are prepared for whatever comes next in your careers,” he said. “You persevered through a pandemic. You are ready to be the leaders of tomorrow – the ones who will help us move past this pandemic, to solve today’s challenges and those to come. You will be the ones to build a brighter future.”
The college’s faculty was represented by Courtney Nagle, associate professor of mathematics education and chair of the secondary education in mathematics program. She found inspiration in the messiness of the last year.
“You showed you could persist, reflect, adapt and grow to find success, even amid the mess,” she said. “You have grown and learned in ways that you never anticipated. A hallmark of a successful person is that they persist in the face of obstacles, and often, these obstacles are blessings in disguise.”
The 2021 graduates were led onto the field by student marshals – the students with the highest cumulative grade-point average in each school. This year’s marshals were:
Congratulations to our new graduates. We are proud to welcome you to our #BehrendGrad family!
In her commencement address, Courtney Nagle, associate professor of mathematics education, told Penn State Behrend's 2021 graduates to look for inspiration in the messiness of the last year. “You showed you could persist, reflect, adapt and grow to find success, even amid the mess,” she said. “You have grown and learned in ways that you never anticipated.”
Penn State Behrend's spring commencement ceremonies were held at Behrend's soccer stadium. Graduates of the Black School of Business and the School of Science were honored at 10 a.m.; graduates of the School of Engineering and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences were honored at 3 p.m.
In her commencement address, Courtney Nagle, associate professor of mathematics education, told Penn State Behrend's 2021 graduates to look for inspiration in the messiness of the last year. “You showed you could persist, reflect, adapt and grow to find success, even amid the mess,” she said. “You have grown and learned in ways that you never anticipated.”
Penn State Behrend's spring commencement ceremonies were held at Behrend's soccer stadium. Graduates of the Black School of Business and the School of Science were honored at 10 a.m.; graduates of the School of Engineering and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences were honored at 3 p.m.
In her commencement address, Courtney Nagle, associate professor of mathematics education, told Penn State Behrend's 2021 graduates to look for inspiration in the messiness of the last year. “You showed you could persist, reflect, adapt and grow to find success, even amid the mess,” she said. “You have grown and learned in ways that you never anticipated.”