2019 Marymount University Commencement

Congratulations to our Class of 2019! 

Graduating is part of a bigger story, just as our Saints are a part of a bigger community. This past Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, 2019, our commencement ceremonies took place in the DAR Constitution Hall in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. We congratulate the graduates and their families on the monumental achievements and take pride in their dedication, capability, and commitment to Marymount’s core values. Each graduating Marymount student has a unique tale of achievement and perseverance to tell.

Commencement is an important milestone in every graduate’s life, as they step on stage individually to be recognized. With the conferral of their degrees, honors, and awards, the commencement ceremony is a momentous occasion to showcase our students’ academic achievements and overall success.

Graduate Commencement

We were privileged to have Sister Catherine Patten as our speaker at the graduate commencement proceedings. In her address to our graduate students, Sister Catherine highlighted the importance of commencement and that it is a day that is both about and for the graduates and their families. She relayed to the graduates a quote from Eugene McCarthy that a Catholic education was “more than being a success, more than making a name for yourself, more than making money, more than being a success, or self-development, or comfort. Its more than.” She then invited graduates to reflect on whether their time at Marymount has challenged them to the “more than.”
Watch Sr. Catherine’s address.

Speaking for the Marymount Graduate Class of 2019, was Ms. Rachel Cohen, who received her Master of Education degree. She shared some advice on happiness from her class of twenty-nine eleven-year-olds. Some highlights of their wisdom include; “save your money for things you really need, not just what you want,” “Don’t drink on work nights,” and “When life gets tough, pet a Corgi.”
Watch Rachel’s address.

After the graduates were named and took their turn to walk across the DAR stage, Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University, charged the graduates to remember their time at Marymount, to always pay it forward, and to support Marymount to help us support the students who follow them.
Watch the President’s Charge to The Graduates

Undergraduate Commencement

Susan Lacz, CEO and owner of Ridgewells Catering, Marymount class of ’83, and esteemed member of the Marymount board of trustees, delivered the undergraduate commencement address. She shared her deep personal connection to Marymount with the graduating class. “Marymount was, and remains, a very special and formative place for me.” said Lacz. “The bonds we formed were strong and deep, and they remain so almost 40 years later.””

She also shared the traumatic but character-shifting experience she had while at Marymount. Lacz had a life-threatening Aneurysm while a student. She told students that it was a wake-up call for her to ask the big questions, to get the most out of her opportunities; “in short, to care.” She charged the students that they didn’t need a brain Aneurysm to care and that completing their degree at Marymount University was evidence they were already on the right path.
Watch Lacz’ address.

Speaking for the Marymount Undergraduate Class of 2019 was William Clarkson. William received his Bachelor of Business Administration. William urged the graduating class to seek happiness, but to do it the right way. “Live in the present…a past trauma or failure does not limit our future success” he said. William also shared the importance of making others’ lives better. “Err in the direction of kindness” he suggested; both for self-fulfillment and because it is right.
Watch William’s address.

After the graduates were named and walked across the DAR stage, Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University, shared thoughts from both Dr. Martin Luther King and Colin Powell, lauded the students on their achievements, and charged them to live with purpose.
Watch the President’s Charge to the Graduates

These commencement ceremonies were an opportunity to praise and recognize our students’ accomplishments in both academics and leadership at Marymount. We have many Saints that have gone above and beyond. The many students honored this weekend are named below.

Undergraduate Latin Honors | Academic Excellence Recipients | Honors Program Graduates | Spirit of Service Program Graduates | Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society Graduates | Military Veteran Graduate Medals | Undergraduate Student Leadership Awards | RSHM Graduation Awards | Presidential Leadership Award

Undergraduate Latin Honors

Undergraduate students who met the requirements to earn Latin Honors (3.4 GPA or higher and at least 60 credits completed at Marymount University) were announced at the Commencement Ceremony, Sunday, May 19.