Spring grads celebrate centennial, commencement

By Sean Barron

Use your talents for betterment of others, Youngstown’s mayor told about 1,000 graduates.

YOUNGSTOWN — In 1980, Janet K. Hartman took home an associate degree, and 28 years and four children later, found herself once again approaching a stage to receive a degree.

“I came back to school to teach in the public schools,” explained Hartman, of Austintown, who got her bachelor of science degree cum laude in education at Youngstown State University as part of its Centennial Spring Commencement on Saturday in Beeghly Center.

“I love teaching, always have, so it seemed natural to finish that off and go to the next level.”

Hartman, whose children are between 16 and 27, works part time at the Austintown Day Care Learning Center. She said she has a few leads on local teaching positions.

Josh Congelio left with a four-year bachelor’s degree in exercise science and said he hopes to work as a strength conditioning coach for the National Hockey League or other professional sports franchise. Congelio, of Strongsville, added that having his girlfriend, parents and other family members at the ceremony was as valuable as receiving his degree.

Congelio and Hartman were among roughly 1,000 undergraduates to be handed four-year degrees at the program, themed “A Proud Past, A Promising Future” in honor of the university’s founding 100 years ago.

Another ceremony took place Saturday at Stambaugh Auditorium for the approximately 125 graduate students.

The commencement’s keynote speaker was Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, who graduated from YSU with a degree in finance.

Williams praised the undergraduates for their tenacity and hard work, but implored them to use their skills and knowledge to help others prosper. Despite some reports of a bleak job market, plenty of positions are available for those receiving their degree to do that, he added.

“The world is full of people who do well for themselves,” the mayor said. “The world lacks people willing to do good for others.”

In keeping with the program’s theme, YSU President David C. Sweet handed centennial medallions to Williams and three other people.

The others were Marilyn Chuey, daughter of Howard Jones, the first president of Youngstown College; Judge Nathaniel R. Jones, who served 23 years with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th District; and Anu Shukla, a YSU graduate who founded a social advertising network in the Silicon Valley in California.

The program also featured several musical selections as well as remarks from Sweet; John Pogue, chairman of YSU’s Board of Trustees; Germaine Bennett, president of the university’s Alumni Society; and Matthew Ward, a graduating senior in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.