When they took their first steps on campus, the 2023 Gettysburg College midyear graduates began a journey of self-exploration, discovering who they could become personally and what they aspired to be professionally. That path, while not always direct, was supported by the tight-knit Gettysburg community.
In front of the people who empowered and guided them along the way, the newest group of Gettysburg alumni took a few more steps across the stage inside the College Union Building Ballroom on Dec. 13, capping their undergraduate careers.
“Graduates, you have taken tens of millions of steps to be here,” said Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano. “And yet this much is clear—our lives are not a solo expedition. We need one another, every step of the way.
“No matter your next step, no matter where you go from here or what you accomplish in your career, remember the people who surround us are what make the journey worthwhile, and the people who love us will forever be our greatest destination.”
Each year, the Midyear Graduates Recognition Ceremony honors students who have completed or are set to complete their academic requirements toward their liberal arts and sciences degrees by the end of the fall semester. This year’s event celebrated 31 graduates set to take the knowledge and enduring skills they have gained beyond the Gettysburg campus.
“I want to remind you that this College, your professors and advisers, your classmates and friends, [and] your Gettysburg experience will always be with you, wherever you go in the world,” said Provost Jamila Bookwala. “It will continue to shape and influence everything you do: the way in which you approach new situations and ideas, the way in which you engage and communicate with others, the questions you ask, and the decisions you make.”
“May your paths be filled with purpose and fortitude, may your endeavors be fueled by hard work, and may your hearts be open to service to others, making the world a better place.”
– Prof. Heather Odle-Dusseau
Featured faculty speaker and David M. Levan Endowed Chair of Ethics and Management Heather Odle-Dusseau noted the arduous and deviating path many of the graduates may have endured and the resilience they all displayed in reaching their graduation after years of hard work and determination during their time at Gettysburg.
“Here at Gettysburg College, we have the mantra ‘Do Great Work,’” Odle-Dusseau said. “But great work is certainly not easy work. It’s hard. And this hard work isn't just about putting in the hours; it's about the tenacity to keep going when the path seems daunting.”
Odle-Dusseau drew a parallel between the Gettysburg graduates and exemplary individuals who persevered through difficult trials of their own, such as Sarah Breedlove, one of the first self-made female millionaires; Isabel Allende, a Chilean-American writer who became one of the most widely read Spanish-language authors; and Robert Egger, founder of the non-profit organization DC Central Kitchen. Each of these individuals faced racism, poverty, political exile, language barriers, homelessness, and a host of unpredictable challenges, but still prevailed to make a lasting impact on society.
“Congratulations, graduates, for embracing the unpredictability of life and emerging as resilient individuals ready to shape the world,” Odle-Dusseau said. “May your paths be filled with purpose and fortitude, may your endeavors be fueled by hard work, and may your hearts be open to service to others, making the world a better place.”
Following Odle-Dusseau’s remarks, Vice President of College Life Anne Ehrlich called each midyear graduate in attendance by name to recognize their achievements on stage. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the alma mater by Thomas Lynch ’24 before a closing statement from President Iuliano.
“Graduates, my charge to you tonight is to heed Professor Odle-Dusseau’s advice to embrace life’s unexpected twists and turns, and with it, the opportunity for growth, for discovery, and for making a positive impact on the lives of others,” Iuliano said. “Graduates, this is your time. Take all that you’ve learned here and go forth to Do Great Work out in the world.”
All midyear graduates are invited to participate in Commencement Weekend for the Class of 2024, which will take place May 17-18, 2024.
Read President Iuliano’s full remarks from the 2023 Midyear Graduate Recognition Ceremony
View the gallery from the Midyear Graduates Recognition Ceremony.
By Corey Jewart
Photos by Abbey Frisco and Jason Minick
Posted: 12/18/23