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Pennsylvania College of Technology begins graduation

By Pat Crossley 3 min read

It was an energetic crowd of family, friends and staff who came prepared to celebrate the first of three commencements for students from Pennsylvania College of Technology. More than 650 students total were expected to march at all three ceremonies.

Friday's ceremony at the Community Arts Center featured students from the School of Business, Arts & Sciences and the School of Nursing & Health Sciences walking across the stage, accepting diplomas as their years at Penn College came to an end.

"Today we join with your family and friends in celebrating your success as you prepare to embark on your next rewarding and memorable, professional and personal journeys," said Dr. Michael J. Reed, Penn College's president.

"I trust that each of you will build upon the skills and life lessons that you've learned here in college to make your indelible mark in the world," he said.

Everyone joined in the fun, cheering as their graduate crossed the stage. Some graduates waved to the crowd as they walked while others focused on getting that diploma in hand and returning to their seats.

Some students had decorated their mortar boards with flowers. The dental hygiene students chose to adorn theirs with glittery teeth. All were festive, deserving of the atmosphere at the event.

Student speaker for the ceremony was Ninoshka Marie Rivera Matos, a native of Puerto Rico and the first in her family to attend college.

She shared a story of a red and purple hibiscus that her father gave her when she was five years old and in a play at school in Puerto Rico. He placed it on her ear and told her that she would now look different and stand out from all the other girls in the play.

"The reason I wanted to share this story with you was to remind you of how special each and every one of you are -- how you shed light on someone's life differently than anyone else," Matos said.

She shared the meaning behind the colors of the hibiscus given to her by her father and compared it to the lessons learned by the students at the college.

"A pink hibiscus is used to symbolize friendships and many kinds of love...a purple hibiscus is associated with knowledge and mystery," she said.

"We have all grown so many long life friends and relationships in which we learned the greatest lesson and that's to love and be loved in return," she said.

"As for the purple color of the hibiscus, you have grown wiser, stronger, more accommodating and have gained so much knowledge that our futures are the greatest mysteries we're itching to catch sight of," she said.

Although the atmosphere was more like a festival, complete with bouncing beach balls and noisemakers -- possibly even a cowbell-- those attending the ceremony paused for a moment of silence to remember fellow classmate, Jared Kiess, who had passed away before reaching graduation.

In closing the ceremony, Reed shared a quote from Albert Einstein, "'Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.'"

"Graduates, I urge all of you to tap your imaginations as you apply what you have learned here and forge your career paths. You have the skills, grit and determination to chart your course," he said.

"Thank you for stepping up and stepping forward when others have stepped away. Our nation and our communities need more leaders like you...I can't wait to hear what awaits on your horizon," he said.

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