Commencing....
May 21, 2012
Commencing....
On May 12, 2012, Cheyney University celebrated its 175th Anniversary Commencement and welcomed the American legend, hero, and civil rights leader, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., who gave the keynote address. As I walked in front of Reverend Jackson during the processional entrance, it was clear that his contributions to civil rights and humanitarian causes were more than historically appreciated by the applauding thousands who had gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of future leaders. The love shown to Reverend Jackson was not only gratitude for the years dedicated to needed change in America, but also energizing new bridges to the future––to what can be.
Some parents approached him respectfully, and they thanked him for participating in the 175th Commencement activities. Hundreds took pictures with iPads, phones, and cameras to memorialize the special moment on the Historic Quad of Cheyney University.
At the end of his riveting address, Reverend Jackson called the graduates to action by reminding the students that "Graduation is a milestone, not an end zone," and challenging the graduates to "Heal the land."
Actor, musician, and deep thinker, Terrence Howard made a special appearance to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of CU and to share congratulatory remarks. His presence was a welcomed surprise to students and their families––as was evidenced by the screams that often follow a motion picture star of his magnitude. However, Dr. Terrence Howard, who portrayed Cheyney State College alumnus, Jim Ellis in the movie, Pride, addressed the thousands gathered with profound candor and insights that were appreciated by graduates and the families attending the memorable ceremony. Howard stressed that the graduates must be ready to adjust to change. He stated, "How you deal with change will determine how well you succeed."
After what many thought was the best CU commencement ever, I explored the faces of the hundreds of celebrating families and friends as we participated in the ceremonial processional. I recognized the looks of pride of parents who are often witnessing the first person to complete a university degree from generations of sacrificing families, the looks of deep gratitude of students who came to campus years ago with only uncertainty and hope, the glows of satisfaction at having achieved this great milestone, and the smiles of great expectation for good things to come in a future now so much brighter…
…for commencement!
Michelle Howard-Vital, Ph.D.
President
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Tags:
COMMENTS
P R E V I O U S P O S T S
- President's Blog - April 2013 - CU Transforming to Produce A Quality Education for the 21st Century
- President's Blog - March 2013 - Our Daughters and The Broadening of The Talented Tenth
- President's Blog--January 2013--Our Collective Action is Required
- President's Blog - February 2013 - Helping Others Reach Their Potential
- Thoughts for a Really New Year
- HBCUs – A Village of Choice for Some
- Cheyney University – 175 Years of Access, Opportunity, and Excellence
- A Fork in the Road ...
- The Unleveled Playing Field
- 100 Black Men: Fathers and Husbands Working for A Better Tomorrow
A R C H I V E
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
B L O G S B Y T A G
175th, 21st century, 21st Century graduates, access, achievement gap, alumni, athletic hall of fame, athletics hall of fame, BBBS, Bennett College for Women, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Bill Cosby, black history, black males, blog, Bond Hill, budget cuts, butterfly effect, Call Me MISTER, centers of excellence, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, City Year, college, college board, commencement, cost of higher education, education, education challenges, education crisis, educational enterprise, excellence, fall, featured, Gaston Caperton, giving back, global citizens, graduating seniors, Haiti, hall of fame, Harrisburg, healthcare, heroines, homecoming, homecoming 2010, human rights, Humphrey Scholars, Humphrey’s Hall, Inaugural Speech, intellectual capital, James Dumpson, Keystone Honors Program, legacy, legacy breakfast, life long learning, Mayor Nutter, Michael Nutter, Michelle Howard-Vital, Michelle R. Howard-Vital, minority males, NEED, negro educational emergency drive, opportunity, pathways to excellence, president, President, President Barak Obama, President Michelle R. Howard-Vital, President's blog, President's Blog, renovations, residence hall, retirement, Rose-Anne Auguste, scholarships, social media, strategic plan, student engagement activities, student organizations, study abroad, Sylvester Pace, teachers, thanksgiving, The Bond, The Pact, The Talented Tenth, The Three Doctors, transformation, transition, university college, Vital, Vivian Stringer, W.E.B.Dubois, We Beat The Streets, welcome, women history month, youth
