More than 50 graduates received their bachelor’s degree at Penn State Brandywine’s fall commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 18 in the campus gymnasium.
“Commencement is one of the greatest days in the life of a university. Commencement is also a memorable day in the lives of all our graduates,” Chancellor Marilyn J. Wells told the newly minted Penn State graduates and their guests. “Each generation has its defining moments, and for you, completing your world-class education, undergraduate research, community service, sustainability projects and internships at leading corporations through the pandemic is your defining moment.”
Image: Penn State
Image: Penn State
Image: Penn State
Image: Penn State
Victor Ficarra, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business, was the student speaker at the morning ceremony. He was president of the Lion Ambassadors, captain of the tennis team and a member of the basketball team, a peer tutor and a Schreyer Honors scholar. He plans to attend law school this fall.
Ficarra told of realizing that he chose his first major for the wrong reasons and embracing change as an opportunity, rather than a sign of failure.
“It is at the moments of change in our lives where we are quite literally picking a new direction for ourselves, and we must be willing to pick these directions and run with them,” he said. “Along the way, we must also be capable of seeing new opportunities as they present themselves. Making changes and taking on new opportunities can be absolutely terrifying but that feeling of gratification and fulfillment when it all works out is what has kept me g