Quinnipiac University today conferred 1,410 degrees during the 81st undergraduate commencement exercises on the Mount Carmel Campus. Sunday marked the first time in Quinnipiac history that two ceremonies were held for undergraduate commencement.
Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and co-founder of the financial services firm Blackstone, received an honorary degree and addressed 710 graduates from the School of Business and College of Arts and Sciences during the day’s first ceremony on the academic quadrangle.
“My goal today is to help you make your way, with some examples from my own life and the world we live in,” Schwarzman said. “I have five pieces of advice. Four do’s and one don’t.”
He encouraged the graduates to: maintain their confidence; ask questions when they don’t know something and share knowledge when they do; and dream big dreams and don’t get discouraged by rejection. He also told them to consider starting their own enterprise when they get older.
“Don’t take a job you’re really not interested in,” Schwarzman said. “It’s like marrying someone you didn’t really want to date.”
During the afternoon ceremony, Nancy Brinker, founder and CEO of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, received an honorary degree and addressed 700 graduates from the schools of Communications, Health Sciences and Nursing. Dick Robinson, founder and chairman of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, also received an honorary degree.
Brinker encouraged the graduates to follow their own paths and live their passions. “When you wake up every morning, have a reason to swing your legs over the side of the bed and be excited to get to work,” she said. “It’s an old but true saying – if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
She also urged the students to persevere.
“Don’t quit,” she said. “…No’ is a word you should be comfortable hearing, but never comfortable accepting. You can’t let others stop you from doing what you know is right. Don’t let anyone tell you what’s impossible. This has been a principle at our organization -- it had better be when you’re seeking to cure cancer.”
The President’s Scholarship Award, which is presented to the students with the top grade point average in the graduating class, went to Vincent Dapolito of Harriman, N.Y., Brianna Guerrera of Watertown, Jillian Moruzzi of Cheshire and Natalie Sgro of Lincroft, N.J.
Alumni Academic Achievement Awards were presented to the top students in each school: Vincent Dapolito and Natalie Sgro (School of Communications); Kristen Flannery of Braintree, Mass. (School of Nursing); Brianna Guerrera and Jillian P. Moruzzi (College of Arts and Sciences); Nicole Lewis of East Amherst, N.Y. (School of Health Sciences); and Melissa Mancini of Westwood, Mass. (School of Business).
The following Hamden residents graduated Sunday:
- Jonathan M. Bozzuto, Bachelor of Science in Finance;
- Matthew R. Cavanaugh, Bachelor of Science in Finance;
- Andres Cordido, Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management;
- Nick D'Ambrosia , Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies;
- Amy Danaher, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology;
- Kimberly A. Davis, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology;
- Bethany A. Dymarczyk, Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics;
- Alyssa J.Forsythe, Bachelor of Arts in Social Services;
- Ethan S. Gnepp, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science;
- Jessica L.Hardman, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology;
- Kristin H. Higgins, Bachelor of Arts in English;
- Dayna B. Kasprzycki, Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management;
- Grace A. Lepis, Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies;
- Michelle E. Mach, Bachelor of Arts in English;
- Elizabeth Mah, Bachelor of Science in Nursing;
- Michael J. Miller, Bachelor of Science in Management and Bachelor of Science in Finance;
- Harry E. Needham, Bachelor of Arts in History;
- Ryan A. Palmer, Bachelor of Science in Nursing;
- Jenny K. Pretty, Bachelor of Science in Nursing;
- Kimberly M. Severino, Bachelor of Science in Biology;
- Brian J. Sheridan, Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine;
- Whitney J. Steck, Bachelor of Science in Nursing;
- Jebish Tuladhar, Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Digital Design;
- Jebish Tuladhar, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science;
- Nicole L. Vece, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism;
- Megan O. Wagner, Bachelor of Science in Nursing;
- Julie A.Whitman, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology;
- Hilary K. Whittle, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and
- Jennifer R. Zammataro, Bachelor of Science in Marketing.
