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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
2012 Undergraduate Commencement: Celebrating the Success of NSU’s Graduating Class
This year’s Outstanding Students were recognized at the Baccalaureate Reception, held at NSU on the night before Commencement. They are (from left) Jonathan Sanz, Dania Jaggon, Lori Chinn, Genesis Montpellier, Nichole Dovale, Sarah Yassin, Angelica Dolan, Lindsey Nowland, Amy Peters, Dan Abella, and Jesse Secord, joined by Don Rosenblum, Ph.D., dean of the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences.
On May 12, approximately 700 students crossed the stage at the 2012 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. Thousands of friends and family members, as well as more than 120 NSU faculty members, joined in celebrating the achievements of the graduating students from the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, Abraham S. Fischler School of Education, and H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
The exercises were punctuated with inspirational speeches from NSU president George Hanbury II, Ph.D., class of 2012 member Jonathan Sanz, who earned the James Farquhar Award, and humanitarian Terry Waite, a former hostage negotiator.
“Keep your aim above your reach,” said Hanbury, speaking at his first Commencement as university president. Citing NSU’s eight core values, he encouraged the class of 2012 to focus on three in particular.
• Opportunity: Remember those who provided you opportunities, and help others as you move forward.
• Community: Give back to your community to make this world a better place.
• Integrity: “A university becomes great…because it develops an outstanding student body,” whose members serve with integrity as students and as alumni.
Sanz reflected on his journey from being an undergraduate freshman to standing on stage at Commencement, speaking on behalf of his graduating class. He then focused on the future, drawing on the academic theme of “Truth and Power.”
“You’ve earned this degree,” said Sanz. “Use it to empower yourself and face the unknown…because the unknown brings a wealth of opportunity.”
Keynote speaker Waite presented a passionate and personal speech that recounted his life as a hostage negotiator and the nearly five years he was held hostage in Beirut. Waite said that, throughout his ordeal, “I could rely on truth.” He urged the students to use truth to overcome their own obstacles.
“You move out into a world full of duplicity and deception, as well as promise—respect truth,” said Waite. “You are the fortunate ones. You have had an academic education. Now, you go forward to an education in life.”
The night before Commencement, NSU hosted the 16th annual Baccalaureate Reception, a social event that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of the university’s graduating class. More than 1,000 people attended the event, including students, friends, and family members, as well as NSU faculty and staff members.