Excited for the future, Carthage honors 650-plus grads
After years of hard work, the members of the Class of 2022 earned the right to celebrate with their supportive friends and relatives.
More than 650 recent and impending Carthage graduates participated in the Commencement Weekend events May 20 through 22.
Formal degree conferral took place Friday evening at an event reserved for students and a limited number of guests. Then, at assigned times on Saturday and Sunday, graduates and their full complement enjoyed an extended procession that culminated in the ceremonial stage walk with cheering faculty.
“You’re beginning a journey that’s going to last decades, but I can assure you the world is watching you,” Commencement speaker Nick Pinchuk told graduates. The chairman and CEO of Kenosha-based Snap-on Inc. added that their success is “essential to the prosperity of America.”
The topic is right in Mr. Pinchuk’s wheelhouse. He has contributed heavily to the growth of a skilled U.S. labor force, both directly in manufacturing circles and through regular commentary for media outlets like CNBC and Bloomberg.
Mr. Pinchuk’s advice covered four main topics. He urged the Class of 2022 to enlist others in their ideas, pay strict attention to detail, strike a balance that allows them to adapt in a crisis, and remain eternally curious.
Before he took the podium, Carthage awarded Mr. Pinchuk an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. A member of the Board of Trustees since 2011, he has also given extensively toward Carthage facilities and operations.
“The one thing I know for sure is that each of us has the incredible opportunity to create the world we want every day,” she said. “We act, we decide, we reassess, we question, we interrogate, and we evolve. And, as long as we’re doing that, we’re OK.”
It’s vital to “reboot our brains,” Prof. Barron advised the outgoing class. He compared the human mind to a computer that periodically needs to upgrade to a more modern operating system.
“Most of you will be working in industries we cannot even imagine, doing jobs that are unfathomable today,” he continued.
During the Last Night ceremony, the College also presented the Distinguished Alumni Award to three outstanding graduates: Barbara Dale ’75, John Danley ’80, and Brian Peccarelli ’81. And family members of the late Al Van Maren ’65 accepted the Carthage Flame on his behalf.
Earlier in May, as part of its annual Celebration of Scholars, Carthage held smaller ceremonies honoring graduates from multicultural backgrounds (Black, Latinx, and LGBT+), the nursing program, and the Honors Program.