Congratulations AMU Class of 2014

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Published on Monday, 12 May 2014 16:08

 
The Golisano Field House on the Ave Maria University campus was packed again with proud family members who watched as 194 undergraduates and nine graduate students received degrees at the school's 10th commencement since its move to Florida. (Above, the traditional hat toss that took place Friday after the Baccalaureate Mass - photo by Tony Zollo)

In his remarks to those gathered to celebrate the graduation of the class of 2014, AMU President Jim Towey stressed the importance of marriage and family among the university's students, noting that 22 members of the class of 2014 were engaged to other class members, which is not unusual at the Catholic school. Of the school's total alumni of almost 900, Mr. Towey said, about one in five is married to a spouse who also attended AMU.

"Marriage is a noble vocation, a worthy pursuit, a method of sanctification," he said.

Before awarding degrees to the students, Mr. Towey also conferred an honorary doctoral degree on the Librarian of Congress, James Billington, who delivered the commencement address. Mr. Billington, who was appointed by President Reagan, is one of America's foremost scholars and has received more than 40 honorary doctorate degrees.

Following the commencement exercises, a ceremony of a different type took place for graduate Michael Watkins, who was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Lt. Watkins, seen in the picture with his bars being pinned on by his mother, sister and fiancée, will be married shortly and thanks to the generosity of Ave Maria residents, will be able to purchase the ceremonial sword worn by Marine Corps officers on such occasions. Many residents who knew the young man through his work at the Queen Mary Pub, contributed more than $1,300, about the entire purchase price of the sword. (photo by Erica Ledesma)