AMU Graduation Events Begin Friday
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Published on Thursday, 07 May 2009 13:48
Ave Maria University will graduate its fifth class this weekend.
The baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated Friday, May 8 at 2:00 p.m. by Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life and Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. Pavone will also receive an honorary degree from AMU at the commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday. Both the Mass and commencement exercises will be held in the Ave Maria Oratory. Residents can attend the Mass, although seating may be limited.
AMU will graduate a total of 114 students, with 61 receiving bachelor's degrees and 49 receiving master's degrees, 44 of which are from the Institute of Pastoral Theology Program, and four doctorate degrees in theology. At the commencement ceremony Saturday, two others will receive honorary degrees in addition to Fr. Pavone. Francis Sehn and Fr. Pavone will receive honorary degrees of doctor of humane letters, honoris causa. Dr. Thomas Hilgers will receive an honorary doctor of science, honoris causa.
In addition to the commencement exercises in Florida, 70 graduates of the AMU Nicaragua campus will receive degress there.
Following is brief biographical information provided by AMU on the three recipients of honorary degrees.
Fr. Frank Pavone is one of the most prominent pro-life leaders in the nation. He was ordained as a priest in 1988, and in 1993 became National Director of Priests for Life, an organization dedicated to uniting and encouraging all clergy to give special emphasis to life issues in their ministry. In 1999, Fr. Pavone was named among the Top 100 Catholics of the Century. Fr. Pavone currently serves as President of the National Pro-life Religious Council, a coalition of groups from many different denominations working to end abortion; Pastoral Director and Chairman of the Board of Rachel's Vineyard, an international retreat program for post-abortion healing; and is seen daily on EWTN and heard on Vatican Radio.
Dr. Thomas Hilgers founded the Nebraska-based Pope Paul VI Institute in 1985, dedicated to studying women's reproductive health without the use of contraception. Hilgers is a clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Creighton University School of Medicine, and is a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1976) and the American Board of Laser Surgery (1988). He has been involved in education and research throughout his professional life and has authored several books and numerous research articles, primarily in the areas of reproductive medicine and surgery. In 1994, Pope John Paul II appointed him to full membership in the Pontifical Academy for Life and, with his wife, he served for five years on the Pontifical Council for the Family. In 1997, the Nebraska Family Council named Hilgers Physician of the Year. In 2001, he was presented with the John Cardinal Wright Award by the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and in 2004 he was the recipient of the Linacre Award, one of the highest awards given by the Catholic Medical Association.
Fran Sehn has served as Chairman of The Fran Sehn Company, an international engineering and consulting firm, since 1954. Sehn is a pioneer in manufacturing robotics and holds a patent for his design of heavy duty press equipment. He was among the first to fully automate a production line in the automotive industry and holds the distinction of Registered Professional Engineer, being one of the first individuals to do so. Sehn is also a leader in promoting personal safety in manufacturing facilities. In addition to his career-long contributions to manufacturing and engineering, Sehn is a large supporter of the Center for Oral History, within the Department of History at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Through this program, students are prepared to fight the types of warfare in which we are now currently engaged. Sehn has long been involved in supporting the Catholic Church in the United States; more than 20 years ago, he was one of the 44 individuals asked to be part of the Papal Foundation to raise money for the Vatican. He also serves on the board of directors for Pulte Homes, the residential builder in Ave Maria, Fla.
