The 76th Commencement at St. Catharine College was celebrated Saturday morning in Lourdes Hall on campus. A total of 105 students received Bachelor or Associate Degrees in the morning ceremony.
Stan Curtis, founder of Kentucky Harvest and USA Harvest, was the featured speaker offering his insights to the audience of over 800. “The easiest part of your life is just finishing today,” said Curtis who is also serving as the chairman of the Ryder Cup committee in Louisville. “There are three kinds of people in the world. Those who watch things happen. Those who make things happen and those who wonder what happened. You graduates are obviously those who make things happen. Step up and take hold of things. I want you to do good and do good right now for all of our future to be better.”
William D. Huston, President of
St. Catharine, conferred degrees and also made a special presentation to Sr. Ann
Frederick Leonard O.P. who is retiring from St. Catharine after 47 years.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Hamilton Simms, gave the comments regarding
the resolution that awarded Sr. Ann Frederick the rank of Professor Emerita, the
first in the history of the College.
William D. Huston, President of St. Catharine, conferred degrees and also made a special presentation to Sr. Ann Frederick Leonard O.P. who is retiring from St. Catharine after 47 years. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Hamilton Simms, gave the comments regarding the resolution that awarded Sr. Ann Frederick the rank of Professor Emerita, the first in the history of the College.
“Today,
with sadness and yet with joyful gratitude we wish to acknowledge the retirement
of one of our friends and colleagues,” said Simms. “Sister Ann Frederick Leonard
has been an integral member of the St. Catharine family for 47 years. She has
served as a residence director, a dean of students, chair of the Mathematics
Department, a mathematics faculty member, Director of the Resource Center and a
mathematics tutor. Thousands of students have benefited from her skills, her
concern and her insistence on rigor.”
Also recognized at Saturday’s ceremony was the graduation of seven students who received a Bachelor of Science degree in education. As Dr. David Arnold, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, noted, “The original mission of the education that began on these grounds in 1822 was to prepare teachers. Today we come full circle in graduating our first teachers.”
Another new feature at this year’s Commencement was the attendance of the Golden Alumni. Those were St. Catharine graduates who graduated 50 or more years ago. A number of activities were held for the Golden Alumni including a reception, breakfast with the President and a trip to Churchill Downs. Angela Hoffman, Director of Alumni Relations, said 39 Golden Alums attended this year.
Dr. Gina De-Arth Pendley, Director of Psychology programs, concluded the Commencement, by singing a Hymn in Honor of St. Catherine of Siena. The Marion County High School band performed the recessional, as well as the processional, under the direction of Curtis Ervin.
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