RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gabriella Fugon reacts after receiving her diploma during the 178th Annual Commencement ceremonies at Lycoming College on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Umbrellas were certainly the fashion accessory of choice for graduating seniors at Lycoming College’s 178th commencement, as they continued the time-honored tradition of walking through the Oliver Sterling Metzler Gate located at the north side of the campus and proceeded to the Keiper Recreation Center for this year’s indoor ceremony.

Saturday’s damp and dreary weather may have driven the event indoors this year, but it certainly did not dampen the spirits of the graduates and their family and friends who came to witness this milestone in their lives, filling the center to capacity.

This year also marks the first graduation under the leadership of Dr. Charles Edmonds who assumed the role of president of the college last July, following the retirement of Dr. Kent Trachte.

“It is a first for both of us, but a far more momentous day for each one of you – and all those who have come to celebrate with you – as we commemorate one of the most significant achievements of your life,” Edmonds told the graduates.

“You have accomplished and achieved much over your four years at Lycoming. You arrived on the heels of a global pandemic and did so much to remind me and many others what it means to live and learn in community,” he said.

Edmonds went on to list what the students had accomplished during their years in college, not just in terms of academics and athletics.

“You also came to Lycoming to become a better version of yourself – to have a college experience that would shape not only your mind, but your body and soul as well. You decided to take risks both in and outside of the classroom to build your confidence and increase your readiness for your career, graduate school, professional degree, or military service,” he said.

“You gave of your time and resources to the community to learn more about the needs of others and the ways in which talent is equally distributed across humanity, but opportunity is not. You pursued an education with and among people from very different backgrounds and experiences and as a result you learned that civility, kindness, dignity, appreciation for difference, and finding common ground are the most powerful forms of human capital. And finally, you invested in new friendships and relationships that have changed the course of your life and will be instrumental in all you do and achieve,” Edmonds said.

The featured speaker for the event was Dr. Lynn D. Kramer, a 1972 Lycoming graduate, and Chief Clinical Officer, Deep Human Biology Learning, at Eisai Company Ltd.

Quoting Charles Dickens — “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times” — he told the graduating seniors, “The same events lead to completely different interpretations depending on the lens of time and stage life. This consideration translates to the need for resiliency as a disappointment may later be interpreted as a valuable lesson and success with greater perspective.”

“Disappointments can be life lessons and successes may be transient but a first step,” he added.

He urged the students to identify their own truths, or aphorisms, and to reflect on them frequently as they help mold your direction and keep your own nose to the grindstone.

He offered what he deemed frequently stated aphorisms including: Do not fall for the false narratives as there are many-many generated to suppress your own initiatives-the world is competitive; change other people’s lives and in doing so it will change yours but be true to your goals as you of course live only once – currently; believe that one person, it could be you, can impact the world with key decisions; do not sleep through life if you do, you will regret it

complete tasks even if you expect you will fail; life is long; change is constant; and be able to do your next job before you take it-don’t be afraid to take a job but prepare and be ready for it.

“You were privileged to grow as a person here at Lycoming, don’t waste what you learned. Don’t waste the opportunity, it is at your feet, seize it, for if you don’t someone else will. You have time, it is on your side as learning never ends. Take risks to make achievements, be audacious in pushing yourself, as after all it matters most to you, try to understand what makes you special and stay true to it. Remember the Lycoming College Warrior slogan ‘think deeply, act boldly’,” Kramer concluded.

In her remarks at the event, senior Anna R. Glantz reflected on the reasons that she and her fellow graduates chose Lycoming for their college experience and what it meant on this, their last day as students.

“We arrived to a campus full of strangers. We leave with people who feel like home. And through every new class, every new semester, every time the student population shifted, we learned to keep opening ourselves to new people, new relationships, and new connections that will last far beyond today. We’ve experienced that “old friendships and new” have found worth here as we have watched our upperclassmen friends graduate and in turn welcomed underclassmen to campus and into our organizations every year,” Glantz said.

“Lycoming has given us opportunities, challenges, joy, questions, growth, and community. It has shaped our thinking and our character and taught us to think deeply and act boldly. It’s given us chances to research, write, create, and lead. It has made us better, sometimes in loud, obvious ways, and sometimes in quiet, gentle ways we didn’t notice were happening,” she said.

“I hope you continue to show up for the Lycoming community the way it has shown up for you. Support the future generations of your teams and organizations, attend Alumni Reunion and Homecoming weekends for many years to come, and remember that Lycoming is always going to be your home,” she added.