Class President Matt Hotard ’11 is congratulated by Alumni Association Board President Erika Dunn Stanat ’90 at the 2011 Commencement Ceremony. Stanat shook  hands with all 900 graduates and welcomed them into the Bucknell alumni family.

Stanat spoke to the graduates and their families at the Candlelighting Ceremony on Sat., May 21.

“As someone who’s been through Bucknell Commencement before, albeit 21 years ago, I can tell you that this weekend will represent for you a remarkable intersection of past, present and future,” she told the seniors. “Commencement offers you the unique opportunity of bringing together the family you have loved your whole life and your Bucknell family whom you’ve know the last four years. You get to bring them together in celebration of this momentous occasion in your life.”
Among the graduates, 700 were awarded degrees in the arts and sciences, while 150 received degrees in engineering.
Full Commencement coverage

Full Remarks

Erika Stanat ’90, president of the Bucknell Alumni Association Board of Directors, Candlelighting Ceremony
Commencement 2011
Sat., May 21

“Good evening, Class of 2011. It is my great privilege to be here this evening and to tell you on behalf of nearly 50,000 Bucknell alumni worldwide how very proud we are of you this weekend on the occasion of your graduation.  Now, as someone who’s been through Bucknell Commencement before, albeit 21 years ago, I can tell you that this weekend will represent for you a remarkable intersection of past, present and future.

You will find yourself at moments this weekend caught up in reflection. You will look with gratitude at your parents, thinking about the day they dropped you off on Bucknell’s doorstep. And the journeys they took to be here this weekend to celebrate with you. You will look with fondness at your friends and the wonderful memories you’ve created together, and the wonderful times that you’ve had on campus. You will think with pride of the hard work, energy and dedication that you have committed during your four years here to bring you to the moment of your graduation. You will think with appreciation about those faculty members, administrators and staff members who’ve invested their personal time and energy to serve as your mentors and help you find your path forward. And if you are like me, you will be overwhelmed at points this weekend when you realize how deeply you love this campus and how deeply you love this university.

You will also have moments this weekend when you are caught up in the present. Commencement offers you the unique opportunity of bringing together the family you have loved your whole life and your Bucknell family, whom you’ve known the last four years. You get to bring them together in celebration of this monumentous occasion in your life. You will find yourself caught up in moments of awe, when you look out and celebrate the accomplishments and successes of your classmates and colleagues. And if you are like me, you will find yourself at moments when you are humbled at the realization of how fortunate you are to be a Bucknellian.

Inevitably your thoughts will also look forward to the future. You will think about how the next chapters in your lives will unfold, both personally and professionally. You will think about your commitment to making sure the relationships you’ve worked so hard to build the next  four years, endure beyond your time away from campus. And if you are like me, you will think about how you will carry Bucknell forward with you into the world. As you stand here today, Bucknell has left an indelible mark on who you have become, but rest assured, the University’s work is not even close to done.

Bucknell will have a significant impact on your life as you move forward into the world, both your personal life and your professional life. You will find yourself enriched for the balance of your years by the fact that you are a Bucknellian. Honor this, cherish it and celebrate it. Find a way as you move away from the University to reconnect with campus and the University. Find a way to engage with fellow Bucknell alumni, both friends that you have now and friends you will make in the future. Find a way to support the University each year, to honor your four years here and to preserve your legacy for generations of Bucknellians to follow.

And finally, let the love that you feel for Bucknell this weekend burn bright in your hearts and let it bring you home. Come back here for Reunion, for Homecoming, for athletic events, arts events, speakers, seminars. Whatever the occasion, come back home. You will be a Bucknellian for the rest of your life and Bucknell will be enriched by the fact that you have spent your time here on campus.

Congratulations this weekend. We will watch you tomorrow with gratitude, pride and inspiration. Best wishes.“