Nearly 700 graduates received degrees on Saturday.
SPRINGFIELD - “Carpe Diem!,” Bay Path College President Carol A. Leary told the 650 graduates gathered at the college’s 116th commencement on Saturday at the MassMutual Center.
Latin for seize the day, the phrase is Bay Path’s motto, and she urged the graduates to do just that as they leave Bay Path to embark on their careers.
She urged them to always be lifelong learners and be “inquisitive and curious.” When faced with the option of sitting on the sidelines, or leading, she said she hopes they choose to lead the way.
“America needs you,” Leary told the graduates.
The commencement speaker was Dr. Grace Makari-Judson, a medical oncologist and co-director of The Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research at Baystate Medical Center, the chair of the Baystate Health Breast Network and an associate professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Makari-Judson, who also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters, talked about her journey to become a doctor, how she was told not to practice medicine and have children (“I had four; four sons,” she said, describing her home as “delightfully chaotic.”)
“I never listened to statistics when they got personal . . . Know when to tune out or you will end up making other’s mistakes,” Makari-Judson said.
Write your own definition of success, she told the graduates.
She said she was pregnant with her twins, on bed rest, when she got the idea to start a breast center. She beat out the other candidate for the position because, she said, she had a clear vision of what breast care should be like.
She also mixed in some humor, for parents who may soon be welcoming some graduates back into their homes. Those young adults are called “kippers” in England, Makari-Judson revealed, “kids in parents’ pockets eroding retirement savings.”
Several graduates addressed the crowd: Sarah Hernandez, who spoke of her 15 year journey to get a college degree and now plans to take her four children on the road to be a traveling occupational therapist; Tricia Montagna, who said her college experience helped her find her place in the world: and Kristen Elsner, who praised the faculty for giving her confidence as she pursued her master of science degree in forensics.
The Eagle Award was given to graduate Shelby E. Regan of Longmeadow, who received her degree in business administration and will be pursuing her master’s in education. The award is given to an all-around student who shows leadership, is involved in athletics and maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Regan, captain of the lacrosse team, said she did not know she was going to get the award, and was in such shock she wasn’t sure she would be able to walk up to the stage to receive it.
Regan said she loved her time at Bay Path, and is excited to continue her education.
The Pathfinder award was given to Catarina Saenz of Peabody; it is given to an exceptional student.
Judith A. Matt, founder of The Spirit of Springfield, also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters.