Graduates honored at Penn State DuBois' fall commencement ceremony

LuAnn Demi offered the commencment address.

LuAnn Demi, program director of the Penn State DuBois Occupational Therapy Assistant Program and 2019 DEF Educator of the Year, advised students to find balance in their lives during her commencement address.

Credit: Steve Harmic

DuBOIS, Pa. — Penn State DuBois celebrated fall commencement on Thursday, Dec. 19, in the campus gymnasium. Chancellor M. Scott McBride presided over the ceremony, with Professor of Chemistry Arshad Khan serving as faculty marshal. LuAnn Demi, the 2018-19 DuBois Educational Foundation Educator of the Year, offered the commencement address. Academic achievement awards were presented to Joelene Murawski, for associate degrees, and to Emily Donahue, for baccalaureate degrees, for achieving the highest GPAs in their class.

“These degree candidates would not be here today without the love, support and encouragement of family and friends,” said McBride to open the ceremony, before Demi addressed the graduates. “On this day, we thank all of you.”

Demi earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College in 1993, and her bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1984. She is a certified occupational therapist with the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy and is licensed through the Pennsylvania State Licensing Board.

“My objective tonight is to help you think more broadly about what you want to do with your time moving forward,” Demi told the graduates. “Because there is no syllabus for this next chapter of your life.”

Stressing that the graduates embrace the experience of life fully, Demi advised them to find balance. She told them to work hard at building a career, but to also look for passions outside of work that can enrich their lives.

“I’ve learned over the years that a one-dimensional person doesn’t fully live or succeed in life,” she said. “I hope that if someone were asked, ‘What’s LuAnn like?’ the descriptors would be more about my character and what makes me a person than any educational or career accomplishments. Clearly you want to start a meaningful, rewarding career. But I’d also like to suggest you think about the importance of creating balance in your life.” 

Penn State DuBois' fall 2019 graduates are:

College of Agricultural Sciences

Degree of Bachelor of Science

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Taylor Gillette, Emporium, Pa. 

University College

Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Administration of Justice

Duncan LaValle, Ridgway, Pa.

Letters, Arts, and Sciences

Donald Guthridge, Clearfield, Pa.

Degree of Bachelor of Science

Administration of Justice

Carlee Hidinger, Brookville, Pa.

Hayley Knepper, DuBois, Pa.

Business

Emily Donahue, Penfield, Pa.

Brent Mazary, DuBois, Pa.

Koren McCullough, Cherry Tree, Pa.

Brittany McLaughlin, Hammond, Wis.

Human Development and Family Studies

Stephanie Fegert, Curwensville, Pa.

Danielle VanSteenberg, Corsica, Pa.

Information Sciences and Technology

Yusuf Adekunle, Philadelphia, Pa.

Jerred Amick, DuBois, Pa.

Daniel Delaney, Reynoldsville, Pa.

College of Agricultural Sciences

Degree of Associate in Science

Wildlife Technology

Cassandra Cooper, DuBois, Pa.

Ethan Dennis, Smethport, Pa.

Gunnar Emberg, Warren, Pa.

Colin Moore, Homer City, Pa.

College of Engineering

Degree of Associate in Engineering Technology

Mechanical Engineering Technology

Damon Clark, DuBois, Pa.

Seth Connors, Curwensville, Pa.

Nicholas Semanek, Bedford, Pa.

University College

Degree of Associate in Science

Business Administration

Noah Rankin, Clarion, Pa.

Melinda Washburn, Ridgway, Pa.

Information Sciences and Technology

Cory Anderson, Bellefonte, Pa.

Jonathan Ingham, Punxsutawney, Pa.

Nathaniel Rodgers, Granbury, Pa.

Occupational Therapy

Capri Clark, Emporium, Pa.

Kirsty Fry, Brockway, Pa.

Kayleigh Glatfelter, York, Pa.

Emily Haldeman, Punxsutawney, Pa.

Rachel Homan, Clearfield, Pa.

Megan Liebal, Roaring Spring, Pa.

Ashley MacKinlay, Emlenton, Pa.

Kennedy McLendon, Knox, Pa.

Joelene Murawski, Clearfield, Pa.

Jada Palmer, Brookville, Pa.

Robert Pearce, Morrisdale, Pa.

Samantha Robbins, Rockton, Pa.

Alyssa Simbeck, Saint Marys, Pa.

Shannon Sullivan, Emporium, Pa.

Nicole Zeigler, York, Pa.