'It's a great day to be an AMCAT'

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

    Anna Maria College graduates were told not to equivocate on their principles, as they participated in college’s 69th commencement Saturday at Hanover Theatre in Worcester.
    “Like Pope Francis, we want your voices to be heard; we want you to shout,” said Mary Louise Retelle, who became the college’s president four years ago, when many of them arrived. She was recalling words the pope addressed to youth on Palm Sunday.
    President Retelle said she’s seen optimism in the graduates’ faces, and that the college grew during their time there.
    “We are starting small and making it big,” supported by faith and reason-based values, she said. She was alluding to the title of a new book by businessman and philanthropist William S. Cummings, of Cummings Properties, who received an honorary degree. Also receiving honorary degrees were his wife, Joyce M. Cummings, and Regina Marguerite O’Connor, who serves the Sisters of St. Anne, the college’s founders, in areas of faith and service.
    The college also awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields, and gave special awards for promotion of peace and justice, commitment to the college’s mission and academic excellence.
    In her talk, undergraduate student speaker Bryanna C. Tobin focused on a saying of African American tennis champion Arthur Ashe: “To achieve greatness, start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” Ms. Tobin encouraged listeners to tell someone next to them what they’re passionate about and not do the bare minimum.
    “It’s a great day to be an AMCAT,” she said, identifying the graduates with the college’s mascot. “Let’s go out and transform the world.”

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