{"id":1930,"date":"2017-05-13T15:07:56","date_gmt":"2017-05-13T19:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/?p=1930"},"modified":"2017-05-13T16:30:49","modified_gmt":"2017-05-13T20:30:49","slug":"commencement-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=1930","title":{"rendered":"Commencement 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

MANSFIELD, PA\u2014<\/strong> Five hundred forty one students received degrees at Mansfield University’s 152nd Commencement on Saturday, May 13 at Decker Gymnasium.\"\"<\/a>MU President Fran Hendricks, a 1979 Mansfield graduate, told the graduates, \u201cYou will hear your name and your degree called, then you will across this stage and your life will be changed forever. The key for all is to venture forth and boldly use your Mansfield education and experience to boldly open the doors of opportunity that await each of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richard Cashman, Senior Magisterial District Judge for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a 1975 Mansfield graduate, was the speaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not who I was in 1975, I am not who I was in 1995 or 2005,\u201d Cashman said.\u00a0 \u201cLiving changes you, it demands that you grow.\u00a0 I believe, and I often express when in court, that life is a series of new beginnings, new opportunities, each w\"Richard<\/a>ith decisions that will shape the outcome.\u00a0 Today you will embark on a new beginning, young adult life in the post college world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cashman spoke about the core values of the Mansfield Creed; Character, Scholarship, Culture, and Service, and how they can be used to guide the graduates in their futures. He added a fifth value, \u201ca personal value, health.\u201d<\/p>\n

A former member of the MU Council of Trustees, Cashman talked about the ongoing study to decide the future direction of Mansfield and Pennsylvania\u2019s State System of Higher Education.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, the value of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is personal,\u201d Cashman said.\u00a0 \u201cThis system has changed the life story of families across Pennsylvania and mine is one of them. I believe the dream and reality of affordable higher education must be sustained for every parent and every student in every region of this Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGraduating \"Assistant<\/a>from Mansfield University, you have indeed climbed the mountain,\u201d Cashman told his new fellow alumni.\u00a0 \u201cIt was easier for some of you than for others, but for all of you it is an accomplishment that your parents, your friends and this University applaud.\u00a0 Today you get that diploma, use it well. You have an education founded on the core values for success that have stood for over a century. Let your commitment to a successful tomorrow begin here today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarah Polinski of Sayre, PA was named this year’s Outstanding Senior. She graduated summa cum laude in December with a 4.0 grade-point average and degrees in music education and vocal performance.<\/p>\n

Polinski is the 2017 winner of the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence from Pennsylvania\u2019s State System of Higher Education. She also earned an Honorable Mention in the National Hal Leonard Vocal Competition in the Musical Theatre category.<\/p>\n

Among her honors while attending MU were both the Fitz Dixon Memorial Scholarship and the Jack Wilcox Memorial Scholarship for Musical Theatre. She also received a Delta Kappa Gamma Education Grant.<\/p>\n

Polinski was unable to attend Commencement because she is currently acting in the touring education production Ellis Island: Gateway to a Dream<\/em>. Associate Professor of Music Alissa Rose accepted the award on her behalf.<\/p>\n

The Student Government Association (SGA) presented a graduation coin to each graduate. Also, two staff members, representing tenets of the Mansfield Creed, were honored with the current year\u2019s coin for their service to MU students.<\/p>\n

SGA Past President Kiana Medley presented recipients\"Kiana<\/a> Todd Ranney, associate professor of Music, and Donna Miner, administrative assistant in Student Life and Leadership, with this year\u2019s coin.<\/p>\n

Also during Commencement, Ralph Meyer represented the Council of Trustees and introduced Cashman. President Jamie Hall \u201903 represented the Alumni Association.<\/p>\n

The Mountaineer Brass Band, conducted by Associate Professor Nathan Rinnert, provided musical accompaniment for the event. Lucas Lourenco was soloist.<\/p>\n

Assistant Professor Jonathan Rothermel served as grand marshal. Professor Scott Davis was herald. \u00a0Campus Minister Timothy Parker delivered the convocation.<\/p>\n

To see video of the entire ceremony, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MANSFIELD, PA\u2014 Five hundred forty one students received degrees at Mansfield University’s 152nd Commencement on Saturday, May 13 at Decker … Continue reading >Commencement 2017<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1934,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[186,358,337],"class_list":["post-1930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-commencement","tag-commencement-2017","tag-richard-cashman"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Commencement-.jpg?fit=2122%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6V0yH-v8","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1879,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=1879","url_meta":{"origin":1930,"position":0},"title":"Richard Cashman \u201975 to Speak at Commencement","author":"Terry Day","date":"April 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"MANSFIELD, PA\u2014Richard Cashman, Senior Magisterial District Judge for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania \u00a0and a 1975 Mansfield graduate, will be the speaker at Mansfield University's 152nd Commencement on Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m. at Karl Van Norman Field. \u201cDick Cashman is a leader and a true Mansfield success story,\u201d MU\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"alumni\"","block_context":{"text":"alumni","link":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?tag=alumni"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Richard-Cashman.jpg?fit=901%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Richard-Cashman.jpg?fit=901%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Richard-Cashman.jpg?fit=901%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Richard-Cashman.jpg?fit=901%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3766,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=3766","url_meta":{"origin":1930,"position":1},"title":"Mansfield University to hold 156th commencement Saturday","author":"rmcnamara","date":"May 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"MANSFIELD, Pa. \u2013 339 graduates will have their degrees conferred during Mansfield University\u2019s 156th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 15 at Karl Van Norman Field. The commencement is divided into two outdoor ceremonies to allow for appropriate social distancing within state health guidelines. The College of Arts and Humanities along\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"A graduate walks across the stage at Karl Van Norman Field during Mansfield University's 2020 commencement","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MU-Commencement.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MU-Commencement.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MU-Commencement.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MU-Commencement.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/MU-Commencement.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3716,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=3716","url_meta":{"origin":1930,"position":2},"title":"Mansfield University to host in-person commencement ceremonies on May 15","author":"rmcnamara","date":"March 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"MANSFIELD, Pa. \u2013 Mansfield University will host\u00a0in-person,\u00a0socially\u00a0distant commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 15,\u00a0at Karl Van Norman Field. All eligible Fall\u00a02020, Spring\u00a02021,\u00a0and Summer\u00a02021 graduates are invited to participate.\u00a0Commencement\u00a0ceremonies\u00a0will be divided into two\u00a0celebrations\u00a0to\u00a0accommodate\u00a0limitations on\u00a0the\u00a0number of graduates and guests in\u00a0attendance,\u00a0per\u00a0compliance with\u00a0CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines.\u00a0Similar to\u00a0the August 2020 commencement, two guests\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Commencement-HD-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Commencement-HD-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Commencement-HD-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Commencement-HD-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Commencement-HD-1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":744,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=744","url_meta":{"origin":1930,"position":3},"title":"Spring Commencement 2015: Mansfield’s 150th","author":"Terry Day","date":"May 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"MANSFIELD, PA\u2014 Three hundred eighty three students received degrees at Mansfield University\u2019s 150th Commencement on Saturday, May 9 at Karl Van Norman Field.MU President Fran Hendricks, a 1979 Mansfield graduate, told the graduates, \u201cYour charge is to venture forth and boldly use your Mansfield education to open the doors of\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Commencement 2015","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/web-MU-Commencement-2015-4-1024x367.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/web-MU-Commencement-2015-4-1024x367.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/web-MU-Commencement-2015-4-1024x367.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3609,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=3609","url_meta":{"origin":1930,"position":4},"title":"Mansfield University holds 155th Commencement for spring and summer graduates","author":"rmcnamara","date":"August 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"President Patterson hands out a diploma during Mansfield University's 155th commencement ceremonies on Saturday. MANSFIELD \u2013 Mansfield University held its 155th commencement exercises for Spring and Summer 2020 graduates in a pair of ceremonies at Karl Van Norman Field on Saturday, August 8. The commencement was originally scheduled for May\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Commencement1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Commencement1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Commencement1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Commencement1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Commencement1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":785,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=785","url_meta":{"origin":1930,"position":5},"title":"Alumni Weekend 2015","author":"Terry Day","date":"June 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"MANSFIELD, PA\u2014More than 400 alumni, family and friends returned to Mansfield University for Alumni Weekend 2015 on June 12-13.The Class of 1965, celebrating its 50th anniversary, was this year\u2019s honored guests for alumni weekend. Twenty two members of the class returned to MU and were recognized, along with all classes\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Class of '65","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/web-Alumni-2015-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/web-Alumni-2015-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/web-Alumni-2015-3.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/web-Alumni-2015-3.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/web-Alumni-2015-3.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mansfieldu.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/web-Alumni-2015-3.jpg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1930\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}