Thousands of family and friends gathered at Shippensburg University to see more than 800 students from SU’s three colleges graduate Saturday in the Seth Grove Stadium.

The undergraduate ceremony kicked off at 11 a.m., the morning after SU’s graduate ceremony in the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Friday. About 30 faculty members and more than a dozen administrators accompanied the students to the center of the football stadium for the undergraduate ceremony. A cheering crowd filled the bleachers on either side of the stadium.

Graduates Curtis Rabe, Gabrielle Sheller and Otto Wallenmeyer led the crowd in singing the National Anthem, under a cloudy sky. With everyone still standing, Father Dwight Schlaline of the Catholic Campus Ministry gave an invocation.

“This is a commencing of new life,” he said. Schlaline reflected on the students’ past few years of studying and playing, of joy and sorrow, and success and failure.

SU President George “Jody” Harpster, who presided over the ceremony, introduced the guest speaker, Sean Glennon, president of Operations Americas Volvo Construction Equipment.

“Shippensburg University has been very fortunate to have relationships with business and organizations throughout the region,” Harpster said, introducing Glennon. Glennon, whose son was graduating at the ceremony, said Volvo has worked with more than 400 interns and graduates of SU. He shared his experience, personal stories and wisdom as a way to guide students.

“Every defining moment in our life has a purpose,” he said.

After Glennon concluded his speech, Harpster awarded three alumni who found their purpose with the Young Alumnus Awards. The recipients are E. Christine Cheng of the class of 2000; Delyan M. Dimitrov of the class of 2005; and Jodi Vanderman Driver of the class of 2000.

SU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Lyman then called on the 809 baccalaureates to rise. The students, not moving, looked at each other.

“That’s you,” Harpster said with a smile, after a moment. As the students rose in unison, laughing, Old Main’s Bell Tower began to chime. It sounded off 12 times, signifying noon, while the college of business graduates got in place to receive their diploma.

For more than an hour, students became graduates and what was a cloudy day turned into clear skies and warm sun. When nearly all of the students got their diplomas, family and friends began leaving the bleachers. They waited patiently for the closing remarks and the singing of the Alma Mater, and finally flooded the football field to show their congratulations.

The next thing the new graduates would have to do is look to the rest of their lives.

“Your purpose will steer your legacy,” Glennon said. “What is it for you?”

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