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December graduates encouraged to be leaders
December 12, 2007
More than 200 students participated in the December Commencement ceremony on Dec. 15 in Olson Auditorium.
The hour-and-a-half ceremony included a commencement address by faculty chair and philosophy professor Erin McKenna and a reflection by student speaker Troy Andrade.
Once the degrees were awarded, Andrade stepped behind the podium to reflect on his time at PLU. In his speech, Andrade encouraged his fellow graduates to embrace PLU’s mission, to be leaders in the world and to continually strive to be the best.
“It is now our chance, our opportunity and our choice to bear the burden of leadership,” he said.
At PLU, students are encouraged to serve locally and globally. While some of his fellow students chose to tutor Somali refugee children in Tacoma or engage in peace journalism in Geneva or participate in service learning in Honduras, Andrade opted to intern at the Pierce County Juvenile Court.
Andrade’s first case was a 10-year-old boy named Martin, arrested for carrying a weapon to school. His tragic story included a father in prison, a deceased mother and an awful foster care experience. Andrade questioned how he could help the boy.
But by listening and serving over the course of a year, Andrade saw Martin complete his requirements for the court, raise his failing grades to above average and be placed in a loving home. Andrade said he left the experience “not as an intern, but as a mentor.”
“We have been drawn to serve great causes on behalf of the voices of individuals that are marginalized and oppressed,” Andrade said. “We have opened our minds and our hearts, and we have found some answers. We have served, and in serving, we set the bar for future Lutes to achieve more.”
View the entire commencement ceremony on LuteCast.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu.
Once the degrees were awarded, Andrade stepped behind the podium to reflect on his time at PLU. In his speech, Andrade encouraged his fellow graduates to embrace PLU’s mission, to be leaders in the world and to continually strive to be the best.
“It is now our chance, our opportunity and our choice to bear the burden of leadership,” he said.
At PLU, students are encouraged to serve locally and globally. While some of his fellow students chose to tutor Somali refugee children in Tacoma or engage in peace journalism in Geneva or participate in service learning in Honduras, Andrade opted to intern at the Pierce County Juvenile Court.
Andrade’s first case was a 10-year-old boy named Martin, arrested for carrying a weapon to school. His tragic story included a father in prison, a deceased mother and an awful foster care experience. Andrade questioned how he could help the boy.
But by listening and serving over the course of a year, Andrade saw Martin complete his requirements for the court, raise his failing grades to above average and be placed in a loving home. Andrade said he left the experience “not as an intern, but as a mentor.”
“We have been drawn to serve great causes on behalf of the voices of individuals that are marginalized and oppressed,” Andrade said. “We have opened our minds and our hearts, and we have found some answers. We have served, and in serving, we set the bar for future Lutes to achieve more.”
View the entire commencement ceremony on LuteCast.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu.