May 07, 2016
La Roche College Honors 51st Graduating Class
PITTSBURGH, May 7, 2016 – La Roche University conferred 44 master’s degrees and 313 undergraduate degrees at its annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 7.
“Don’t ever lose faith in your ability to make a difference,” President Sister Candace Introcaso, CDP, Ph.D., told the graduates. “It is all too easy in today’s technologically oriented world to lose sight of the human factor – how we relate to each other, what we mean to each other, and the gifts that we can be to each other. Make a point to ask yourself every day, ‘What have I given to others?’”
Mark K. Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network, relayed a similar message in his commencement address, which emphasized being contemplative in action and the importance of working toward justice and peace.
“Over and over again, you will be face-to-face with circumstances in which freedom and opportunity for others are being denied or compromised,” Mr. Shriver said. “Individualism and consumerism will invite you to look away, to focus exclusively on your needs and desires. Will you accept that invitation? Or will you accept the vision that La Roche University has presented to you to have a deep, personal relationship with God – to have faith – and to put that faith into action serving others?”
La Roche University presented Mr. Shriver with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, awarded in recognition of his life of service fighting for social justice in advocacy and service organizations, as well as elected office. In his career, Mr. Shriver ascended to executive and leadership roles, focusing throughout his career on advancing the right of every child to a safe and vibrant neighborhood.
During the ceremony, the La Roche University Woman of Providence Award was presented to Sister Joan Marie Harper, CDP, whose life of service, as part of the mission of the Congregation of Divine Providence, is a compelling example of God’s Providence made visible.
The University also presented the President’s Awards for Leadership and Scholarship. These awards are offered to undergraduate students who exemplify the values and characteristics of the University’s mission statement, who have exemplary academic records, and who are effective leaders on campus, in the workplace or in the community.
2016 Traditional Recipient
Ana Paula De Marco Teixeira of Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Bachelor of Arts
International Affairs
Political Science
2016 Nontraditional Recipient
Greer Reed of Verona, Pa.
Bachelor of Arts
Performing Arts: Dance Performance
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate and six graduate degree programs, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences, as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,500 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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