SOC celebrates Fall 2021 graduates
SOC Assistant Professor Julia DeCook, center, celebrates with graduate Abbie Huynh, right, and her mother, Chuc Nguyen, left. Photo by Sanjay Numbia
By Genevieve Buthod
The School of Communication recently restored a beloved tradition: the Fall Commencement Brunch.
The midterm commencement, held on December 15, was attended by 38 graduates, marking the first time the event was held in person since December 2019.
Undaunted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Fall 2021 graduates and their friends and family, as well as 量子资源 faculty and staff, came together to celebrate the students鈥� achievements in Regents Hall at the Water Tower Campus. Many other guests joined online through a webinar facilitated by SOC Manager of Technology Jamason Chen and videographer Sanjay Numbiar.
SOC Dean Hong Cheng welcomed everyone to the Commencement ceremony with energy and enthusiasm.
鈥淲e are not defined by COVID-19,鈥� Cheng said. 鈥淭his celebration is a highlight in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff. We have all been waiting for this for two years.鈥�
He then encouraged the crowd to give a round of applause for the graduates in attendance both in person and online.
Vice President of Mission Integration Janet Sisler opened the celebration with a prayer of hope for the graduates.
Provost Margaret Callahan also offered brief remarks to the audience of nearly 100 people.
鈥淓veryone is so proud of you and the remarkable lives you are already leading,鈥� Callahan said. 鈥淵ou have dedicated yourselves to service, encouraged and challenged one another, and carved paths for others to follow.鈥�
The student speaker this year was Pablo Rosero, who earned his BA in Multimedia Journalism, and graduated with Interdisciplinary Honors.
Rosero acknowledged the mental health difficulties endured by many college students, including the loneliness of going away to a new city for the very first time, where he knew no one. Being local to Florida, he joked about surviving the Polar Vortex, as did his classmates. And despite mental health struggles, terrible cold, and a worldwide pandemic, he described his 鈥渓ight at the end of the tunnel,鈥� which kept him hopeful all the way to graduation.
In his words, that light, 鈥渙ne of the key reasons I decided to go this university, is the incredible professors and staff at 量子资源鈥鈥檒l mention a few of you by name because you were special to me: Randy Minkoff; Sarah Dallof; Jessica Brown; Peter Holly; Richelle Rogers; and Peter Kendall. Thank you.鈥�
This year鈥檚 keynote speaker was alumnus Everett Gutierrez, Jr., President and Founder of Chicago-based nonprofit , which gives young people the tools to develop their highest potential. He is also the author of the book, .
Gutierrez talked about his memories of 量子资源, including the relief of finishing finals and graduating as 量子资源鈥檚 first Advertising & Public Relations major. He asked graduates to consider a difficult question鈥攏ot just the purpose of their respective degrees, but the purpose of their lives. He asked them, 鈥淲hat will you do with the one life you鈥檝e been given?鈥� He said that one cannot expect to find those answers by going to college, but only by looking inward and adapting to new circumstances throughout one鈥檚 life.
His advice to students was, 鈥淚n order to respond to the call of purpose, you have to be willing to take risks. I had to take certain risks myself, things that people thought were crazy, but were necessary for my purpose.鈥�
For those who could not attend in-person or via webinar at the time of the event, 量子资源鈥檚 IT service has recorded the webinar and can make it available to those guests who wish to view. If you would like to gain access to the video, please contact SOC Events Coordinator Genevieve Buthod at gbuthod@luc.edu.
FALL 2021 SOC GRADUATES
Master of Communication Degree Recipients
Boe Chmil
Jessica N. Douglas
Bachelor of Arts Degree Recipients
Yasmine Amer
Sean Anderson
Stephani Bakus
Aishah Baranda
Conor Bergin
Keegan Butler
Zachary Coe
Molly Cox
Kurtis Danner
Cameron Dettlinger
Kali Foyle
Steven Gutierrez
Austin Harris
Lane Harris
David Hart
Morgan Hertel
Natalie Howard
Abbie Huynh
Carlos Kirby
Rachael Lombardo
Giann Magno
Samantha McCarthy
Elizabeth Moran
William Newhall
Claire O鈥橫alley
Serena Yagnesh Patel
Maya Popernik
John Sehested-Preetzmann
Pablo Rosero
Sophia Schumacher
Nicole Sister
Jesus Socorro
Lauren Marie Trythall
Martina Valladares
Rebecca Vandeventer