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Lycoming’s 168th
Commencement
Ceremony
On May 7, Lycoming
College marked its 168th
commencement ceremony
with hundreds of parents,
family members and friends
enjoying a sunny day on the
Lycoming quad, while President
Kent C. Trachte and Philip W.
Sprunger, provost and dean
of the college, awarded more
than 240 diplomas to new
graduates.
Commencement began
with an invocation by the
Rev. Jeff LeCrone, director of
spiritual life and community
service, followed by a welcome
message from Trachte.
Jonathan Gowin, a graduating
senior with a degree in
psychology, delivered the
senior class greeting.
The College conferred
several honorary degrees
to alumni, including Dr.
Marina Nikki Vernalis ’73 for
blazing new trails in cardiac
medicine and for breaking
gender barriers in the military
and medical fields; Jean R.
(Alpert) Staiman ’47 for her
contributions to the local
community during a span of
seven decades; and Rafael
Moreno Valle ’91 for his years
of dedicated public service in
Mexico.
Valle, the 38th governor of
the Mexican state of Puebla,
delivered the keynote address,
sharing his experiences with
facing prejudices and working
through challenges during his
time at Lycoming. Through
those stories, he encouraged
students to hold fast to their
values and persevere to achieve
their own personal and career
goals.
Lycoming College’s chorus
and band provided stirring
music throughout the event,
and a reception following the
graduation ceremony topped
off the day’s festivities
.
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LYCOMING COLLEGE 2016 SUMMER MAGAZINE
T H E CO L L E G E