5-17-14 marian commencement

Marian University held its 74th spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 17.  At the commencement ceremony held in the Sadoff Gymnasium on Saturday, keynote speaker Dr. Tosha Meredith, a 1994 alumna of Marian and owner of Transformational Management Services, Inc., encouraged graduates to continue Marian’s legacy, and challenged them to continue to inspire the community.
“Be inspired to accept the mission of life and to place action behind your thoughts, your knowledge, your dreams, your ideas and your passion so that you are leaving your own imprint on the world,” said Dr. Meredith. “Be inspired to be authentically you, and you will see how that with each challenge, you are equipped in this moment to handle each opportunity for growth and be everything you once feared you wouldn’t be able to be when you arrived here your first day. For you have the tools now to succeed and the sky is truly the limit.”  In addition, student speaker Matthew Follen, a communication major, spoke to his fellow graduates about the value of the Marian University experience and using their degrees to achieve their goals.   “At Marian, we were inspired to take our education seriously, and overcome our fears of failure. This is what sets this university apart from any other. We are surrounded by those who truly care for our well-being and care about what our future holds.  This allows us to open our eyes to our own abilities and potential,” said Follen. “I challenge you to continue fighting for your passions and remember what you have accomplished here today. Today is merely a platform to reach a height of success we once may not have thought possible. Take the values and experiences from Marian University and do something remarkable.”  The ceremony featured the graduation of 274 undergraduate and 36 graduate recipients. Two students received Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Administration degrees.  The weekend’s activities also included a graduation liturgy, a School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony and a School of Education Commissioning Ceremony.