Newman University staged a number of events during the weekend of May 9 and 10 to celebrate the accomplishments and graduation of the Class of 2014.
Events included Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 9, in historic St. John’s Chapel on the Newman campus. The Mass was celebrated by The Most Rev. Carl A. Kemme, who was recently installed as the 11th Bishop of the Wichita Diocese.
Commencement took place on Saturday, May 10 at Central Community Church in WIchita. This spring, 414 degrees were conferred on Newman graduates – 30 associate’s degrees, 224 bachelor’s degrees, and 160 master’s degrees.
The ceremony included an address by Newman University Associate Professor of Nursing Joan Melzer, who received the 2013 Newman University Teaching Excellence Award.
Newman officials also bestowed a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa degree on Kathy and Patrick O’Shaughnessy. Newman awards honorary degrees to notable and accomplished members of the extended Newman community whose life and work reflect exemplary dedication to one of the university’s four Core Values: Catholic Identity, Culture of Service, Academic Excellence, and Global Perspective. The O’Shaughnessys were honored for Catholic Identity.
Also during Commencement, the 2014 recipients of the Harvey J. Ablah Award and the Leona J. Ablah Award were named. The awards are presented each year to a graduating male and a graduating female student who exemplify the spirit of Newman University. Francisco “Pancho” Fields received the Harvey J. Ablah Award, and Alaina Garrett received the Leona J. Ablah Award.
The weekend also included three pinning ceremonies. The Nurses Pinning took place Friday, May 9, as did the Master of Social Work Pinning. The Occupational Therapy Assistant Pinning ceremony was Saturday, May 10 following Commencement.
See highlights of Spring 2014 Commencement and related activities here.
