Stonehill Welcomes Class of 2025 at Academic Convocation
The College formally began its 73rd academic year at Academic Convocation on Wednesday, August 25.
This year’s Academic Convocation, a moment of celebration and community as the College returned to an in-person ceremony, welcomed students, faculty, and staff and encouraged students to reflect on the impact that their professors have on them and to share those reflections with their peers. As is traditional, the Senior Class presented President John Denning, C.S.C. with a carefully selected Ames shovel and members of the Chapel Choir provided music and song, uplifting all in attendance at the ceremony in the Sports Complex.
The ceremony featured Provost DeBrenna Agbényiga, who served as MC, keynote speaker Associate Professor of Finance Michael Mullen, President Denning, students Emma Bernier ’22 and Kemuel Navarrete ’22, alumni Thomas Buckley ’18 and Stacia Silvia ’08, and Faculty Teaching Fellow in Religious Studies and Theology Rev. Adam Booth, C.S.C.
Chemistry Professor Pamela Lombardi was honored with this year’s Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in teaching.
Three Keys to Success
Thomas Buckley ’18 introduced last year’s Hegarty Award recipient, Professor Michael Mullen, who highlighted the impact that Stonehill faculty and students have had on him personally and professionally from the moment he began teaching at the College.
“As I cut my teeth prepping my courses and going about learning this new profession, I realized that there was so much I needed to learn,” shared Mullen. “But anytime I sought advice from members of our Department, that were always willing to help.”
Mullen’s effort, working with his faculty peers, to “ensure that our students received the finest finance education a college could offer” follows his philosophy of lifelong learning—one of the three keys to success that he shared with the students in attendance:
- Make a commitment to lifelong learning as it will bring you great joy.
- Always give your best effort—you will live each day with drive and zeal.
- And when you do these two things, don’t be afraid to grab opportunity when it comes.
Reflecting on the example of his parents, who immigrated to the United States from Ireland, Mullen highlighted how their guts, effort, and readiness personified those three traits—and how they directed those qualities toward providing their children with a bright future. “The greatest gift my parents gave my sisters and I was the opportunity for an education... it was education that changed the direction of the Mullen Family Tree.”
"We need to be optimistic about the future and feel free to choose our life path. But we also must take personal responsibility for our past decisions and to plan for the many personal challenges ahead," closed Mullen. "Think of life—both your personal and professional—as a wonderous opportunity. Dig deep inside your soul and truly be the best that you can be."
Professor Mullen gives the keynote address.
Sarah Barry '22 sings America the Beautiful to open the ceremony.
Thomas Buckley ’18 introduces keynote speaker Professor Michael Mullen.
Inspirational Educator
As she bestowed the Hegarty Award on Professor Pamela Lombardi, Provost Agbényiga shared words of praise and appreciation for Professor Lombardi from her students and peers:
“I'm a bit of a chemistry nerd now and that was sparked by having Professor Lombardi during my freshman year.”
“She has had such a strong impact on me and has made me love chemistry to the point that I will most likely switch to being a chemistry major.”
“Professor Lombardi is someone who cares about her students more than anyone else I know. She cares about students who are not even her own!”
“More than anyone else I know, she provides the students with a sense of belongingness that makes them comfortable and want to learn.”
Read Professor Lombardi's full award citation.
Annual Traditions
Alumni Council representative Stacia Silvia ’08 presented the Officers of the Class of 2022 with their class pins and offered some encouragement to the incoming freshman.
Senior class president Kemuel Navarrete presented President Denning with the senior class shovel, a Sheffield "heart" shape blade shovel.
“The past 18 months have been the hardest of our lives. We survived and excelled through a pandemic, came together to fight racial injustice, and throughout it all have come closer as one community, one school, one Hill. We would not have been able to do this without our strong minds, and even stronger hearts,” said Navarrete.
Provost Agbényiga presents Professor Pamela Lombardi with the 2021 Hegarty Award.
Alumni Council representative Stacia Silvia ’08 presents Kemuel Navarrete '22 with his senior class pin.
Kemuel Navarrete '22 presents President Denning with the senior class shovel, a Sheffield "heart" shape blade shovel.
Spirit of Selflessness
Fr. Denning graciously accepted the class shovel and offered some remarks to welcome the Stonehill community and inspire them to succeed in the year ahead.
Reflecting on last year’s commencement address from Dr. Judy Salerno '73, President Denning recognized the challenge these 19 months have presented. He highlighted Salerno’s inspiring decision to come out of retirement last year to care for those suffering from COVID-19 and her charge to find ways to lift up others, sharing, “As we continue to struggle with the challenge of living during this time of the pandemic, let us demonstrate a spirit of selflessness, as we seek to ‘find ways to lift one another up.”
Read Fr. Denning's full remarks.
The event closed with a Benediction, offered by Fr. Booth, and the singing of Queen of the Summit by Felicia Cafua ’22, Grace Gibson ’22, Connor Knapp ’22, and Brendan Christopher ’22.
President Fr. John Denning welcomes the Stonehill Community.
Students Felicia Cafua ’22, Grace Gibson ’22, Connor Knapp ’22, and Brendan Christopher ’22 lead attendees in singing Queen of the Summit.