May 10, 2023
Reflecting the university’s spectacular growth, Trine University’s Commencement featured the largest graduating class ever and even a larger-than-life personality in NFL and sportscasting legend Terry Bradshaw, who presented the keynote address.
About 1,800 students made up the Trine University Class of 2023, with about 6,700 graduates, faculty, family and friends gathering in the Keith E. Bussee/Steel Dynamics Inc. Athletic and Recreation Center on May 6 to celebrate.
Following an invocation and singing of the national anthem, the three-hour-long ceremony opened with a welcome by Trine University President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D.
Dr. Brooks, presiding over the ceremony for the last time, encouraged the graduates to savor the memories from their college experience.
“Never forget the small moments, the quiet conversations, or the walk into town on a beautiful spring day. All these moments are what come together to make your college experience uniquely yours,” he said.
“Thank you for the many contributions you made to the Class of 2023 and to this university. And please move forward with the confidence that comes from knowing that, even in challenging times, you have built the best possible foundation for a bright future.”
Keeping it simple
Noting that the graduates didn’t need anything too intellectual because they had already received enough of that through their Trine experience, Bradshaw kept his remarks simple, often poking fun at himself and others on stage.
He began by having everyone in the audience turn around and shake the hand of someone next to them.
“You just learned the most important lesson in life, and that’s how to greet and say hello to people,” he said. “You’ll never accomplish anything from this day forward that you won’t have to say thank you to somebody else.”
He told the graduates he begins each day by drawing in a deep breath, and recommended the graduates do the same.
“When you draw in air, you are drawing in God’s gift of life,” he said.
He also said it’s important to learn to smile at people.
“You break down barriers when you smile. The smile on your face tells everyone that you’re a nice person,” he said.
He also encouraged the graduates to take control of their own lives.
“It’s not always going to be easy, it’s not always going to be rewarding, but from this day forward take control of your life,” he said. “Don’t expect anything less than greatness from you. You’re the one that’s in charge.”
He also said we need to learn to like people and be kind to others.
“It will never cease to be about somebody else,” he said. “You can have the most brilliant mind, the most creative mind in the world, but if there’s nobody who wants to work with you or wants to pay attention to you, you’ve accomplished nothing.”
Following the address, the university presented Bradshaw an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
The university also awarded Trine alumnus and Board of Trustees member Larry E. Reiners an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree. Reiners has spent more than 50 years in engineering design, project management, construction management, manufacturing management and corporate management.
He and his wife Judy have generously supported many projects on campus, including the Reiners Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Larry and Judy Reiners Residence Hall, the Thunder Ice Arena, the MTI Center, the Larry and Judy Reiners Endowed Scholarship Fund and the new Trine University Fort Wayne campus.
Degrees and welcomes
The university presented a posthumous civil engineering degree for Luciano Bonaveri Diettes, a Trine student who died in an automobile crash in 2022, to his father Pablo. Family members traveled to the university from Colombia to be part of the ceremony.
Following the distribution of degrees, Sally Rafferty, vice president of the Trine University Alumni Association, welcomed the organization’s newest members.
“You will be the university’s representatives in many disciplines and in many locations throughout the world, and we trust that your work will reflect honor upon, and bring greater strength to our university,” she said.
Benjamin Sears, Robert B. Stewart Award winner for the Class of 2023, responded by expressing thanks to families, faculty and staff, fellow students, student organizations, area employers, the city of Angola and God for the part each played in the graduates’ success.
“As we leave this place, I know that we’ll take the things we’ve learned here at Trine to succeed, lead and serve into our communities, our workplaces and our homes,” he said. “Congratulations, Class of 2023. This chapter is over, but the next one is just about to start.”
Dr. Brooks offered closing remarks, noting, “It’s a great privilege for me to be the first to congratulate you on receiving your degree.”
“I wish you well and I offer the hand of hospitality on behalf of the entire campus community,” he said. “You can come home again, and we will steadfastly stand behind you as you seek your way in the world, just as we have over the duration of your studies here at Trine University.”
The program closed with a benediction and the singing of the alma mater.
The Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) has selected Kim Bennett, vice president for enrollment management at Trine University, to be part of the fifth cohort of its ICI Leadership Academy.
Two students from Trine University’s Ketner School of Business finished in the top 16 at the annual National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship (NCSSC) competition, held Jan. 21 and 22 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
An Indianapolis Colts preseason package, gourmet meals and collectibles autographed by famous names such as Taylor Swift, Patrick Mahomes and Ronald Reagan will be among the many items auctioned to support Trine University student scholarships during the university’s 21st Annual Scholarship Gala.