Framingham State president stresses 'power of learning' during 2023 commencement

WORCESTER — Pure gold.

Framingham State University President Nancy Niemi told members of the Class of 2023 during Sunday's commencement exercises that their ability to take the university's learning opportunities and convert them into opportunity should make them proud.

"You entrusted Framingham State to offer you learning opportunities and to help you take them, spinning them into gold — the gold that is you now," Niemi said.

The ceremony at the DCU Center saw 667 degrees conferred before an ecstatic crowd of graduates, family and friends.

Niemi, who is wrapping up her first year as FSU's president, pointed out that learning comes not only from experience in the classroom, but also outside including friendships, jobs and campus activities.

"I would argue that virtually everything you have done through your work, in and out of the classroom here at FSU, is part of a learning experience that is uniquely yours," she said.

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Niemi urged graduates to not let anyone take away the power of learning from them. She said that while some people may say the degree was for nothing, but that anyone who makes that claim is wrong.

From Cape Verde to Framingham State

In her address, Class President Dara Barros reflected on the uncertainty and perseverance brought on by difficult times, commending her classmates for their resilience.

"Today marks a momentous occasion, the end of our undergraduate era," she said, before reflecting on her experience as a native of Cape Verde, an island country in the Atlantic Ocean about 600 miles off the western Africa coast.

"I embarked on a beautiful journey toward something I had no clue about: the American Dream," she said. "I walked through life with an immense amount of gratitude for all the sacrifices."

Barros added that her time at FSU allowed her to embrace her true identity, which aligns with FSU's motto of living to the truth.

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"Living to the truth is not always easy," she said. "It requires courage to confront your fears, to question and stand up for what you believe in, what we believe in. It demands integrity, the unwavering commitment to honesty, transparency and ethical behavior in all aspects of our life."

In closing, Barros quoted an advocate from Cape Verde as saying, "Learn from life, learn from our people, learn from books, learn from the experience of others, never stop learning."

Congresswoman to graduates: 'Shake the table'

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., began her keynote address by making sure graduates were awake and paying attention by singing, "In case nobody told you today, you're special."

Pressley, the first woman of color to be elected to Congress in Massachusetts, called Generation Z "extraordinary."

"You have grown up in extraordinary and consequential times," she said. "Generation Z is more ethnically and racially diverse than any previous generation."

The congresswoman added that although the burden of student debt looms large, she's working on providing relief.

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"When I look on your faces today, I see that same spirit and it will be up to you to find your path, your identity, your way to bend that arc a bit more toward justice," Pressley said, "I see faces that know their power and are determined to make their mark on this world."

Pressley, who was presented an honorary doctor of public service degree, called on the class to "take up and create space, call the question, shake the table and disrupt the status quo."

Two leaders receive honors from president

Niemi conferred the President's Medal to Professor Emerita Arlene Handschuh, who taught in Framingham State's fashion design and retailing department for 35 years. Among Handschuch's favorite accomplishments was developing a network of contacts for the design internship program, including with TJX Companies, Reebok, Hasbro and the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command.

At the end of her teaching career, Handschuh endowed a fund to provide scholarships to students focusing in apparel design and funds for the faculty to invest in the department.

The Citizen Laureate Award was given to Helen Lemoine, executive director of Leadership MetroWest, a nonprofit community leadership development organization based in Framingham. She has served on the boards of several organizations, including the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, MetroWest YMCA, MetroWest Nonprofit Network and the Framingham History Center.

Lemoine now serves on the board of Framingham Adult ESL, the Middlesex Savings Bank Board of Corporators and the MetroWest Economic Research Center at FSU.

FSU honors excellence in the classroom

Several faculty members, both tenured and visiting, received distinguished faculty awards during Sunday's commencement.

English Professor Alexander Hartwiger and psychology and philosophy Professor Phoebe Lin each received honors for excellence in teaching and excellence in scholarship and creative practice, respectively.

History Professor Lori Bihler joined the two in the tenure-track honors, receiving the award for professional service.

Visiting faculty from each college of the university also received awards. Honorees included English Professor Lorianne DiSabato (arts and humanities), marketing Professor Ella Karat (business), anthropology and criminology Professor Demetrios Brellas (education and behavioral sciences) and chemistry and food science Professor Lisa Savini (STEM).

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham State confers 667 degrees at 2023 commencement