2020届毕业典礼 in Conte Forum on October 17, 2021. (李Pellegrini)
电子游戏软件 alumnus and trustee 史蒂夫·彭伯顿 '89, M.A. '19, H'15, urged the graduates to serve as beacons of light who guide others at 电子游戏软件 毕业典礼 Exercises for the Class of 2020, held on October 17 in the University’s Conte Forum.
“灯塔 are perhaps the most selfless structure that humankind has ever created,” 他说. “It serves no purpose other than to be of service to another, 只是成为一个灯塔, especially in times of uncertainty and chaos.”
"的 lighthouse is 信仰ful, steadfast, resilient and humble...It seeks neither reward nor recognition." 史蒂夫·彭伯顿 (凯特琳Cunningham)
彭伯顿, 商业领袖, 慈善家, 励志演说家, 多样性冠军, is author of the best-selling memoir 世界上的一个机会, an acclaimed memoir chronicling his journey from a childhood spent in cruel foster homes to an adulthood of happiness and success. 它传达了韧性的信息, 信仰, 和家人, the book became a best-seller and inspired a 2017 movie of the same name. 的 book was shared reading for the Class of 2020 during the summer before their arrival at BC, and 彭伯顿向全班讲话 at their First Year Academic Convocation in September 2016.
毕业典礼亮点 a celebration weekend for members of the class, whose senior year was interrupted, including cancellation of their traditional graduation ceremonies, due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the City of Boston.
史蒂夫·彭伯顿 with members of the Class of 2020. (李Pellegrini)
多于1,600 电子游戏软件 graduates (out of 2,332 in the class) returned to campus to attend the ceremony. While all graduates had received their diplomas by mail in 2020, each attendee was acknowledged at individual school ceremonies that followed the main 毕业典礼.
彭伯顿, chief human resources officer at Workhuman, noted that the world that the graduates entered in spring 2020 was rife with a global pandemic, 经济崩溃, and a polarizing political climate—three convergent storms that could not have been anticipated.
“While it has been challenging for all of us, it has been especially challenging for you. It has required you to be resilient, 坚强地站立, 要有信念, to still serve in spite of your disappointments.”
灯塔, 他说, are no longer necessary as a practical matter for navigation at sea, but serve as a perpetual reminder of how we ought to act with one another, 对彼此说. 的 theme is central to his new book, 灯塔效应: How Ordinary People Can Have an Extraordinary Impact in the World, in which he writes about the mentors, 老师, 朋友, and colleagues who selflessly guide others along life’s voyage, and how these human lighthouses may lead the nation to a more unified tomorrow.
“的 lighthouse is 信仰ful, steadfast, resilient and humble,” 彭伯顿 said. “It seeks neither reward nor recognition. It is not concerned about one’s race, gender or 信仰. It neither qualifies your distress or renders judgment on your uncertainty, 它也不关心你的头衔, where you stand on a specific social issue, or who you voted for in the last election. 的 lighthouse is only concerned about protecting your journey, 这样做的时候, 只看到我们共同的人性.
“You…the Class of 2020 have been the embodiment of the lighthouse.”
电子游戏软件 President William P. 莱希,年代.J. (凯特琳Cunningham)
Remarks by 电子游戏软件 President William P. 莱希,年代.J., reflected a complementary message.
“Our world very much needs you graduates of the class of 2020,” 他说. “We need you to help resolve challenges and bring more hope to our day.
"I believe that you are already doing that," Fr. 莱希说, "and I urge that you leave this weekend more deeply committed to sharing with others the benefits you have received from your 电子游戏软件 education, 强调文科的人, and provided in an atmosphere of care and 信仰 shaped by the 耶稣会,天主教 tradition and religious heritage.
“May you always strive to be beacons of light for those around you, much as the tower of Gasson Hall does on our campus. And may God continue to bless you and your families.”
的 一天的庆祝活动 included a Baccalaureate Mass preceding the main 毕业典礼, which was followed by individual school ceremonies and a celebratory lunch and toast on the Plaza at O’Neill Library.
Phil Gloudemans | University Communications | October 2021
的 main 毕业典礼 in Conte Forum was followed by individual school ceremonies, and a lunch for graduates and their guests and toast to the class on the Plaza at O'Neill Library. (Photo above by Caitlin Cunningham, below by Lee Pellegrini)
