College holds the first of three spring commencement ceremonies

By HEATHER GACH - hgach@sungazette.com
Members of the Pennsylvania College of Technology Class of 2008 on Friday not only participated in their commencement ceremony, but also, for a few moments, became hypothetical contestants on the television game show “Deal or No Deal.”

“So here we are, contestants on Life’s ‘Deal or No Deal,’” said student speaker Amie Nicole Hixson of Selinsgrove. ‘‘If you don’t like what you are dealt, you have the power to open another briefcase.’’

Hixson’s challenge to her fellow graduates — “Open as many briefcases as you can.”

Hixson, who earned her associate degree in collision repair technology, was the student speaker at the first of three Penn College commencement ceremonies at the Community Arts Center for the more than 1,000 students who petitioned to graduate at the end of the spring semester.

Friday afternoon’s ceremony was held for students in the schools of construction and design technologies and transportation technology.

Two ceremonies are scheduled for today for students in the schools of business and computer technologies, health sciences, hospitality, industrial and engineering technologies, natural resources management and integrated studies.

Degrees were conferred by Penn College President Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour, assisted by Robert E. Dunham, chairman of the college’s board of directors.

“Graduates, you represent our hope for the future,” Dunham said.

Gilmour told the graduates that “today is about you,” but she also encouraged the students to “honor” all those who supported them along the way.

“Today you become a college graduate,” Gilmour said. “This ceremony is a transition event for all the graduates.”

With that transition from college into life after college comes “excitement and uncertainty,” Hixson said.

“It’s OK to be unclear about the future,” Hixson said. “Life is a funny thing, you know. You can only get out of it what you put into it.”

Along with the knowledge gained from academic studies, Hixson said the graduates learned another important thing.

“We have learned to learn,” Hixson said.

Gilmour commended the graduates for all they have learned and accomplished, and ended the ceremony with a quote from an unknown author.

“The tassel is worth the hassle,” Gilmour said. “You earned the right today to become a college graduate.

“I believe your tassel was worth all the hassle.”

The college also presented its distinguished teaching award, and honored Mel R. Tra as a distinguished alumnus Friday.

Today, Aaron David Moyer, of Perkasie, a business administration: marketing concentration bachelor-degree major, will be the student speaker at the 10 a.m. ceremony. Also Andrew S. Wisner, of York, who is enrolled in the welding and fabrication engineering technology bachelor-degree program, will be the student speaker for the 2 p.m. ceremony.