SHU Confers Degrees Upon More than 3,000 Students

Speakers, honorary degree recipients and others celebrate graduating students’ achievements

The Sacred Heart University community celebrated, honored and conferred degrees upon more than 3,000 students during five commencement ceremonies throughout the week of May 6.

Approximately 1,440 students earned bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, and more than 1,910 graduate students were awarded certificates, master’s and doctoral degrees. Graduate ceremonies were held at SHU’s Martire Family Arena May 7 and 8, and undergraduate ceremonies took place at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport May 11.

SHU President John J. Petillo addressed the undergraduates. He asked them to reflect on their last four years.

“Graduates, just pause for a moment and reflect on that 18-year-old who arrived here,” Petillo said. “Do you recognize the transition in yourself? Do you know better the person you are and who you can be? You have been a gift to this university, because you have been a gift to one another, in joyful moments, in periods of stress and through times of growth. As I look out, it is with mixed feelings that I anticipate this day myself. I celebrate with joy your accomplishments, and yet, because I have come to know so many of you, I will miss your gifts, to this community and, selfishly, to me personally.”

From the undergraduate students

Many of the graduates, eyes sparkling as they proudly wore their caps and gowns, talked about their transformative experiences as Pioneers. They shared stories of how they were shaped by their peers and the wisdom and knowledge faculty and staff bestowed upon them throughout their college careers.

It took Shaniece Kelly more than a decade to complete her degree, but she was determined to finish what she started and take her place as a first-generation college graduate. The Bridgeport native, who earned her bachelor’s degree in business with a focus in management, transferred to Sacred Heart in 2013, and she said the transition to SHU was “super easy.”

“All the offices I had to speak with to get accepted and to move forward with classes had great communication,” Kelly said. “The other reason [I transferred to SHU] is because SHU is faith-based. With life’s adversities, it has taken me 14 years to complete this degree, and this University has reminded me time and time again that God is with me as I go through this journey, and that to me speaks volumes.”

Throughout college, Kelly experienced life’s ups and downs. She got married and had two sons, which were definitely highlights; but she also lost her grandmother, whom she kept close spiritually at Saturday’s graduation in the form of a photograph dangling from her cap.

“My grandmother is on my tassel—she passed away seven years ago,” Kelly said. “Her only wish was for me to graduate college and continue to pursue the best in life. This pendant is a reminder that she is here, walking with me as I cross the stage to receive this high honor and fulfill a dream as the first-generation graduate in my family.”

Kelly said her last year at SHU was great. She was pleased she saved a Catholic intellectual tradition course for her final semester.

“Life as a mom of two, an entrepreneur and the wearer of many other hats can sometimes be a lot to handle,” she said. “However, this class reminded me, through the lectures, discussions, homework and connections I’ve made, how faith is so important to have while going through life’s journey.”

Another milestone occurred for a special, four-legged friend named Layla. The service dog, a Labrador retriever and Chihuahua mix, graduated alongside her owner, Charlie Leahey, a psychology and social work major. Layla provided Leahey with the necessary support for a successful college experience. On Saturday, Layla’s name was called just like any other graduate. The service dog walked across the stage decked out in appropriate commencement attire, eliciting rousing audience applause.

“Having her all four years has helped me get through college with confidence,” Leahey said. “She was my best buddy through it all. She was alongside me through my best days and my worst days. She assisted me with physical and mental health and stood by my side. She is the most amazing dog.”

Leahey and Layla will continue their SHU journey as Leahey starts her master’s in social work program this year.

“All of our hard work together finally paid off,” she said. “Not only am I graduating, but she is too! She is getting her ‘dog-ploma.’ We will be partners in the social work field.”

Undergraduate speakers

At the Saturday, May 11, ceremony at 10 a.m., undergraduate students from the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and College of Health Professions (CHP) heard from keynote speaker and honorary degree recipient Simone Campbell. Campbell is a Roman Catholic sister of social service, attorney, author and 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.

Campbell gave students a few ideas on how to approach their futures and how to deal with the “exams of ordinary living.”

She first told students to stop pushing back because often you’ll get stuck, so instead, fight for a vision. “Always remember to fight for a vision, if you can articulate the vision clearly, you bring people along.”

Campbell then provided three things students can do to develop that vision. She said they should have a holy curiosity, participate in sacred gossip and develop a mononom of joy.

“Holy curiosity is wanting the story,” Campbell said. “As you go out, wherever this life takes you, learn the stories of the people around you.”

Sacred gossip is when people share the stories that they’ve heard and joy, Campbell said, adding joy is the “secret sauce that creates a community.”

At the 3 p.m. ceremony, students from the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT), Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development (FCEHD), Dr. Susan L. Davis, RN, & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing (DHCON) and St. Vincent’s College heard from Kerry Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. Robinson also received an honorary degree.

Robinson offered six wishes she believes will become six blessings to the graduates: for remembrance, gratitude, inspiration, selflessness, joy and abundance.

“I hope that for years to come you will remember this day or, at the very least, one moment from this day,” Robinson said. “The moment during commencement when you are consciously, acutely aware of just how truly proud your parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, professors and friends are of you. We remember that you began college in a pandemic. We know how hard you worked. And we are so very proud of you today.”

She told the graduates to always acknowledge others’ sacrifices and support. “Our accomplishments are never ours alone. We are forever connected and indebted to those who have come before us and supported us,” she said.

Robinson ended her speech with her sixth hope, abundance.

“I hope you live with intention, celebrate life with abandon, be a person of peace, allow your heart to crack wide open because of love, dare to live in the world of possibility, imagine abundance, create beauty and affirm goodness,” she said. “Encounter people who are different than you. Accompany people who are in far greater need than you. This world needs your best self and all of your abilities, talents, cares, commitments and authenticity. And we, all of us present, wait in joyful expectation for all that you will commence this day.”

From the graduate students

A year-and-a-half ago, Jemima Mishaal Cheriyan traveled thousands of miles from home to earn her master’s degree in business analytics at SHU. A native of Hyderabad, India, Cheriyan chose Sacred Heart for its excellent reputation in business analytics. She was also pleased with the intimate class settings and ability to closely interact with faculty and peers.

“The additional factors that influenced my choice included the campus environment,” Cheriyan said. “Of course, one of the reasons I chose SHU was the college’s competitive sports, specifically basketball and ice hockey.”

Once starting her coursework, Cheriyan wasted no time getting involved on campus. She became a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, made friends and enjoyed the campus community.

“In addition to growing both emotionally and professionally, I’ve made friends for life and learned useful skills both inside and outside of the classroom,” Cheriyan said. “My college experience has been enhanced by the extracurricular activities, research projects and internships that have equipped me for the next phase of my life.”

Overall, Cheriyan said SHU transformed her. She encountered academic difficulties that forced her to step outside her comfort zone.

“My life decisions will be driven by the ideals I have acquired from Sacred Heart University, such as integrity, ethics and service,” she said. “In addition to developing my critical thinking, practical abilities and strong work ethic, I also felt more connected to the community, which prioritized honest connections, cooperation and empathy. My future fulfillment and success will be defined through this guidance.”

Graduate speakers

Nick Donofrio, an honorary IBM fellow, delivered the keynote address to graduate students in the School of Computer Science & Engineering on Tuesday, May 7, at 3 p.m.

Donofrio congratulated the graduates on their successes, but he told them their work is not nearly done—in fact, it’s only just begun.

“I started out in 1964,” Donofrio told them. “I’ve seen everything imaginable happen, and yet, and yet, your future will be 10 times more exciting than mine, because in the next 60 years, we’ll likely reinvent ourselves two or three times in those 60 years. The opportunity for change is what you need to focus on. The opportunity for change is what you need to find a way to harness, because everything is changing and will continue to change.”

He told the graduates they will indeed be the world’s leaders as long as they are willing to adapt.

“You want to be the change that matters,” he said, adding that they should put themselves “right in the middle” because they are going to be the movers, the shakers and the leaders. “There’s never been a more exciting time,” he said.

Chris Lowney, board chair at CommonSpirit Health, the nation’s largest tax-exempt health system, spoke to WCBT and FCEHD graduate students at 6 p.m.

Lowney, who also received an honorary degree, wasted no time telling students what they should do after they graduate. “Buy a little figurine of a giraffe, and put it on your desk, and look at it every day,” he said.

He went on to describe the physical characteristics of a giraffe. “You all know that giraffes have incredibly long necks. So just imagine how hard it must be to pump blood from the heart all the way through that long, long neck to reach that animal’s brain. In fact, the giraffe is a plumbing and engineering marvel, with specialized valves to control the blood flow. And perhaps, the most important marvel, the giraffe has an incredibly muscular heart.”

Lowney told the graduates they can’t lead their lives well unless they have an incredibly muscular heart. “I don’t mean it literally. Rather, I speak of the heart figuratively, as the universal symbol for love; you need to be a loving leader,” he said.

After explaining how to be a good leader, Lowney ended his speech by saying, “But whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs may be, you can and should be true to the symbolic meaning of ‘Sacred Heart’ by role modeling loving leadership, by striving for the good of others and by looking toward the future in order to look out for your colleagues. So, get your little giraffe figurine, and resolve each day to lead with a muscular heart and benevolent vision.”

Andrew Banoff, president and CEO of Mozaic Senior Life, addressed students from the CAS, CHP and DHCON on Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. Banoff, too, received an honorary degree.

He told students to do three things: fight back against ageism, live a life of legacy and pursue passions.

“You are young and have your whole lives ahead of you—but life is short, and every day matters,” Banoff said. “So, what you do makes a difference in someone else’s life—and ultimately forms the chapters in your legacy. Without sounding morbid, if you were to write your obituary today, what would it say? What would you want it to say? That you had a great career and made a lot of money and beat everyone at all of the games that you played—that you were successful? Or that you were kind and caring and considerate and always looked at situations from the other person’s perspective?”

Banoff told the graduates that at this stage of their lives, they will find ways to build their careers and their lives around fields of interest. “And there will be lots of choices—so it is just as important to figure out what you are passionate about. I mean that about the hours you spend at work and with charitable causes and community organizations and with your families. Your time is precious—and only you can decide what is important enough to touch your hearts,” he said.