Grads to hear 'Thoughts for a Lifetime'

An Austintown student has been chosen to deliver the senior address.
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- More than 335 students are expected to be presented with their diplomas next Saturday during the 152nd annual Westminster College commencement ceremonies.
The 2005-06 academic year will conclude with a baccalaureate service at 10:30 a.m. in Orr Auditorium and commencement at 2:30 p.m. on the Senior Terrace of Old Main.
The Rev. Daniel B. Merry, associate pastor to Pittsburgh Presbytery and 1977 Westminster graduate, will deliver the baccalaureate sermon, "Is God Fair?" Merry is also the staff person to the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Administrative Commission for Transformation and the Malawi Partnership Ministry Team. Between August 2004 and August 2005, Merry and his family served the Synod of Blantyre in Malawi, Africa.
Main speaker
Charles R. Burke, Westminster College trustee emeritus and chairman emeritus of the Grable Foundation, will deliver the commencement address, "Thoughts for a Lifetime," after receiving an honorary doctor of public service degree from Westminster.
Burke received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School, and was an attorney with Reed, Smith, Shaw & amp; McClay, a staff attorney with Westinghouse Electric Corp., a partner with McCann, Garland, Ridall & amp; Burke, and a partner with SCC Investment Advisors, all located in Pittsburgh. He served on the boards of Rubbermaid Inc., the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and several other smaller corporations.
The class of 2006 has chosen Nawal Rajeh to give the senior address. Rajeh, a senior political science and individual interdisciplinary major, is a graduate of Fitch High School in Austintown and a daughter of Ghassan and Soumaya Rajeh. In case of rain, ceremonies will be held at the Memorial Field House.