Providence, R.I.--The Class of 2009 was singled out for its scholarship and record-setting generosity as Providence College celebrated its Ninety-First Commencement Exercises on May 17 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

A total of 1,210 degrees--993 baccalaureate, 145 graduate, 68 from the School of Continuing Education, and five honorary--were awarded during the 2½-hour ceremony before an audience of approximately 10,000 people.

Undergraduate day school graduates represented 29 states, nine countries, and five continents. The academic majors most represented in the graduating class are marketing, biology, English, and finance.

Individually, the honor of highest academic achievement went to Cara R. Bragg '09 of Holland, Ohio. A political science major and a French minor, Bragg recorded a grade-point-average (GPA) of 3.99.

Collectively, the class distinguished itself for recording the highest rate of participation in the Senior Giving Campaign in school history, 45 percent, representing a gift of $26,499 to the College. The previous highest rate was 31 percent by the Class of 2006.

Five receive honorary degrees
Of the five distinguished individuals who were awarded honorary degrees, four have direct ties to the College. The group included the commencement speaker, Martin J. Doblmeier '73, the founder and president of Journey Films, Inc. of Alexandria, Va. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

In addition to Doblmeier, honorary degrees were awarded to:

• Sister Deborah A. Blow, O.P. '78, co-founder and executive director of North Country Mission of Hope in Plattsburgh, N.Y., and a founding member of the Dominican Sisters of Hope of Plattsburgh, Doctor of Humanities;
• Robert P. George, J.D., D.Phil., the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. An award-winning scholar and author and a member of the President's Council on Bioethics and the Council on Foreign Relations, Doctor of Juridical Science;
• The Honorable Maureen McKenna Goldberg, J.D. '73, acting chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, Doctor of Laws;
• Michael A. Tranghese, longtime commissioner of the 16-school BIG EAST Conference and former sports information director in the PC Department of Athletics, Doctor of Public Service.

All of the honorary degree recipients with the exception of Tranghese, who was unable to attend due to a family medical emergency, were present. Tranghese's degree was accepted by Robert G. Driscoll, Jr. associate vice president for athletics and athletic director.

A special bond for Father Shanley
The Very Rev. D. Dominic Izzo, O.P. '88, chairman of the Providence College Corporation and prior provincial of the Eastern Dominican Province of St. Joseph based in New York City, gave the invocation following the opening procession and the National Anthem.

As the first of five individuals to extend greetings, College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. '80 told graduates he felt a "special kinship," as the Class of 2009 represented his first four-year class as president. Father Shanley began serving as PC's 12th president on July 1, 2005.

The president thanked seniors for their record-setting gift, emphasizing that it "makes a powerful statement about the character of your class."

He recalled a conversation with the president of the Student Congress, Elizabeth A. Wolf '09 of Holden, Mass., who recently attended a conference of collegiate student leaders in Washington, D.C. Father Shanley related that Wolf told him she felt her education was as sound and comprehensive as any student she met at the conference.

"You have been prepared by your education to make your mark in the world," Father Shanley told the graduates. "You are ready . . . you have the most valuable assets in the world: the capacity to think and a firm moral compass."

But their education, their ability to learn, doesn't end with commencement, said Father Shanley. "Don't stop learning. It is a lifetime task," he said. Quoting Plato, Father Shanley added, "I hope your education at Providence College has made you philosophers, lovers of wisdom. I hope you never lose your desire for wonder..."

Also praising the class for its record gift to the PC Fund was Brian M. Maher '68, who brought greetings as the president of the PC National Alumni Association. He congratulated class members for their "great start" in setting a standard of giving back to PC that all young alumni can follow.

After asking class members with immediate family members who are PC alumni to stand up, Maher offered three points of advice. "I simply suggest that you remain true to yourself, keep in touch with one another, and remember that Providence College will always await your return home with open and loving arms," he said.

Class president: Live for today
The third College representative to extend greetings was Jesse M. DePatsy '09 of Holden, Mass., senior class president. DePatsy encouraged graduates not to get so caught up in thinking about their futures that they forget to live in the present and lose the meaning of life.

He acknowledged that because of global economic woes, some graduates may not have jobs awaiting them. They may feel ashamed and let down that the environment around them is not rewarding their educational diligence. But, he reminded them that the resolve they demonstrated during the past four years lies within.

"I can attest that what we have accomplished and strived to be will overpower any rejection we may get in the future. The passion and spirit of this class will shine through in any difficult situation to come," said DePatsy.

The class president urged graduates not to fall prey to the greed present in some segments of American society and to use the values they have learned at PC to change unfairness and greed incrementally.

Reminding graduates to recognize the lifelong support they have received from their families, DePatsy concluded, "I beg you all to never, ever compromise who you are inside. Never let anything you do in the future ruin what you are made of. Never let the greed that is all too common consume your life."

Also bringing greetings to the Class of 2009 on behalf of the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island were Mayor David N. Cicilline and Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts, respectively.

Following the greetings, the exercises continued with the presentation of candidates for baccalaureate, SCE, and graduate degrees, the conferring of honorary degrees, the Commencement Address.

The ceremony concluded with the benediction and blessing of the graduates by College Chaplain Rev. Thomas Blau, O.P., the Alma Mater, and the recessional. Music for commencement was provided by the Providence College Symphonic Winds ensemble, directed by Dr. Christopher T. Kelton, assistant professor of music and director of instrumental activities.

Other weekend events
Commencement Weekend opened with the ROTC Commissioning Ceremony at the War Memorial Grotto on May 15. Twelve cadets in the College's ROTC Patriot Battalion, including five from PC, were commissioned as second lieutenants. The keynote speaker was retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael T. Byrnes '67.
 
Activities on May 16 continued with the Academic Awards Ceremony in the late morning in the Peterson Recreation Center. Later in the day, also in Peterson, the Commencement Mass and the Service of Investiture were celebrated, led by Father Shanley, the principal celebrant and homilist. The Mass was followed by a Parents' Reception on Hendricken Field.

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