‘No place like home,’ some YSU grads say

Close to 500 students, including about 128 graduate students, received their degrees.

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

YOUNGSTOWN — Erin Bishop recently saw a play called “Wicked,” which made numerous references to “The Wizard of Oz.”

The one that likely resonated the loudest for Bishop was Dorothy’s wanting to come home to her aunt in Kansas.

“When I graduated from Ursuline in 1995, many of my friends left, but home is important to me, so I chose YSU,” Bishop told a crowd of hundreds of people who attended Saturday’s summer commencement ceremony in Youngstown State University’s Beeghly Center.

The powerful scenes in the 1939 movie classic served as metaphors for the key points Bishop made as she addressed faculty, as well as the graduates and their families and friends. Bishop, who graduated with her master’s degree in public health, was the student commencement speaker.

Bishop recalled that she had little direction during her first several years at YSU, having changed her major four times. Eventually, though, someone told her about a community health program and encouraged her to go for her master’s in that field, Bishop said.

“It seemed like a better fit for me. It was a lot of hours and work, but I was ready,” Bishop said, adding that her volunteer efforts included working with an HIV/AIDS ministry and with youngsters who were infected with or affected by the disease.

Close to 500 students, including about 128 graduate students, walked across the stage to receive their degrees. One of those was Kurt M. Weber, whose major was marketing management and who got his bachelor of science degree in business administration.

The accomplishment was extra special for Weber, who was diagnosed around first grade with attention deficit disorder and who faced various obstacles related to ADD. YSU’s smaller classes and student/teacher ratio proved helpful to Weber, who began at the university in fall 2000.

Weber said he has about five leads on jobs, including a few in North Carolina and South Carolina, but plans to stay in the area for the time being. He also touted several assets to the region.

“This area has transitioned from once being a big steel industry and is now a big scholar industry,” he added.

Speaker

Before being handed their diplomas, students and the audience heard a 20-minute speech by Thomas J. Cavalier, commencement speaker.

Cavalier, who is president, chairman and CEO of Butler Wick Corp. and Butler, Wick & Co., encouraged the students to always incorporate ethics, responsibility and service into their careers and personal lives. He cited several personal reflections and read a poem exemplifying the attributes.

“If you can embrace these three, you will be well on your way to a satisfying life” and will enrich others lives, Cavalier said.

The graduation ceremony featured a performance tribute to songwriter Irving Berlin by the YSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble as well as performances by members of the Dana School of Music.

Also included were remarks by YSU President David C. Sweet; Atty. John Pogue, chairman of YSU’s board of trustees; and Bruce Sherman, president of the university’s Alumni Association.