Patrick celebrates WSU's first senior convocation

Date: 9/22/2010

Sept. 22, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor

WESTFIELD -- Westfield State University's Class of 2011 will graduate in less than 250 days in an era of uncertain employment opportunity.

Gov. Deval Patrick reassured those attending Westfield State's first convocation as a university on Sept. 16 that job growth is occurring in the Commonwealth.

"We added another 4,000 jobs in August. We're gaining jobs faster than 47 other states," he told those in attendance.

Courtney Sarantos, president of the Class of 2011, called the group, "a class of big change," while citing the myriad structural and educational improvements the institution has made in the past four years.

"We must embrace change. Our class is the one to handle this change with ease," Sarantos said.

WSU President Dr. Evan Dobelle told the students, "You have in your innocence such promise. You are ready to rise above self-absorption and spectacle that is on TV every night ... the liberal arts reminds us of what one individual owes to another."

Dobelle challenged the Class of 2011 to embrace change in their lives and to make their world a better one than they were given.

WSU's 2011 commencement will take place May 21.