Scranton Conducts Undergraduate Commencement

The University of Scranton conferred more than 775 bachelor’s degrees at its undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 19 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre. Degrees were conferred to graduates who had completed their academic degree requirements in August and December of 2023, as well as January and May of 2024.

Members of the University’s undergraduate class of 2024 represent 17 states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Undergraduate majors with the most graduates are nursing, biology, accounting, kinesiology and occupational therapy. The class includes Shelby A. Traver 24’, Sweet Valley, the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright Award in Political Science to the University of Rwanda, Huye Campus, Rwanda.

Shabana Basij-Rasikh, the co-founder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA); Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., the president of Marywood University; and Joseph M. Vaszily ’95, former University trustee, retired vice president at Goldman Sachs, and referee for Women’s Division I Basketball in the Big East Conference; received honorary degrees at the ceremony. Basij-Rasikh also served as the principal speaker.

In her address, Basij-Rasikh used a phrase from the sayings and teachings of Prophet Muhammad that is familiar with Muslims around the world: “seek knowledge, even to the ends of the Earth.”

“It is a call to action, an encouragement and an exhortation to all of us: be curious. Be fearless. Ask hard questions of others and of ourselves. And with our knowledge, with compassion and with confidence, be the actors who create a better world,” said Basij-Rasikh.

Speaking directly to members of Scranton’s Class of 2024, Basij-Rasikh said “You are the curious ones. The thoughtful ones. The fearless ones. And with you, I share my motivation: seek knowledge, even to the ends of the Earth. And with your knowledge, with compassion and with confidence, lift our world to a better place.”

John A. Nelson ’24, a computer engineering and philosophy double major and member of the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program from Jefferson, Maryland, spoke on behalf of the Class of 2024.

“The year we started at Scranton, 2020, will never be forgotten by anyone. Our new, budding college experience was overshadowed by serious health, economic, and social problems,” said Nelson. “We witnessed an incredible, yet slow, rekindling of the spirit in the community around us. Social interaction was difficult, yet here we are four long-yet-short years later surrounded by friends that will last a lifetime. … What we’ve encountered is a community of resilience despite change, and I think that community has a lot to do with who we’ve become.”

Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, addressed the graduates at the ceremony, and conferred degrees upon candidates presented by Victoria Castellanos, Ph.D., dean of the Leahy College of Health Sciences (formerly the Panuska College of Professional Studies); David Dzurec, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management.

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, provided the Invocation and Rachel Frissell, faculty specialist, Physics and Engineering Department, provided the Benediction. Also speaking at the ceremony were Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, and Paul DiPietrantonio ’97, president of the University’s Alumni Society. Music was provided by the University’s Concert Band and Singers, under the direction of Cheryl Y. Boga, conductor and director of Performance Music.

An archived recording of the ceremony can be seen at this link.