Pitt-Bradford Graduates Largest Class

By Kimberly Marcott Weinberg
Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

John Schlimm sure knows how to make a crowd feel special.

Speaking before more than 200 University of Pittsburgh graduates and their guests Sunday, the award-winning writer said that the address would be one of the highlights of his life.

"When I was told that you, the seniors, specifically chose me to be your speaker, I was so humbled and honored, and I knew that this would be a moment that I would never forget as long as I live,” he said when taking the podium. Dr. Livingston Alexander, president, addressed the choice of Schlimm by students in his introduction.

“Some of you may be wondering how a vegan cookbook writer ended up as our commencement speaker,” Alexander said, then explained that a group of students had had the chance to hear Schlimm speak at a career-preparedness event held at the beginning of Spring term and were so energized that they asked the author of multiple cookbooks, a novel and other nonfiction to speak at commencement.

Schlimm, who is from St. Marys, told the graduates about three lessons he has learned since his own college commencement.

“The road to yes is paved with many ‘no’s,’” he told them. “You will embark on your own road to ‘yes,’ but along the way, you will encounter bumps and rejections of all kinds.”

Schlimm’s own career has taken him through the worlds of politics, entertainment, publishing and communications.

“I have an entire file cabinet full of rejection letters from publishers,” he said. “Thank goodness I didn’t listen to any of them because I also have the ‘yeses’ in my file cabinet.

“As great as each ‘yes’ is when it comes, I never forget that it’s each one of those ‘no’s’ that came before it that made it possible.”

He told graduates to think of the road to ‘yes’ as a cobblestone pathway with each ‘no’ as a stone along the way that will get them one step farther on their way. “Embrace each ‘no’ for the lesson it can be.”

Schlimm’s second lesson was to embrace compassion at every turn, and thanked the younger generation as “the first not to see black or white, gay or straight, Christian, Muslim or Jew. You only see another human being standing in front of you. Your generation has already moved the world ahead in this way.

“Let compassion be the gentle and powerful hand at your back to guide you on the road. Don’t fear failure or mistakes or sadness – learn from them.

“This life is all too short. This life goes by too quickly. Embracing compassion is the key to making the most of it.”

Schlimm’s third bit of wisdom was less conventional. He said while many are familiar with the Biblical phrase, “to whom much is given, much will be required,” he also believes that for those from whom much is taken, much is also to be expected. He cited inspirational cases of people who suffered tragedy yet went on to make a difference in the world.

“In each of your lives, you have surely faced hardships,” he said, “yet you have found your way here.” >P>

Also addressing the class was the Rev. Leo Gallina, former pastor of St. Bernard Church and friend of the university, who was honored with the Presidential Medal of Distinction, the highest honor Pitt-Bradford can bestow.

“I am so glad for this great award that I never expected,” Gallina said. “I am happy that in some simple but ordinary way I can help other people.”

Gallina spoke about the two scholarships he has established that have helped 42 students since 1998. “I’m so glad that I established that scholarship fund in memory of my parents, and I’m so glad that after my brother died, I decided to do something to help Pitt-Bradford help other people.”

Also recognized at commencement was Tamra Minnier, a member of Pitt-Bradford’s first nursing class in 1981, who received the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association’s Alumni Award of Distinction.

Minnier is the chief quality officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

After conferring of degrees for associate’s, bachelor’s and even a master’s degree, there was a special recognition of Dr. Tammy Haley of Bradford, assistant professor of nursing at Pitt-Bradford, who earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh.

Pictured, Katie Zapel of Bradford receiving her degree from Dr. Alexander while Dr. Steven Hardin, vice president and dean of academic affairs reads graduate names in the background; John Schlimm, commencement speaker; Father Leo Gallina and Tamra Minnier being honored by Dr. Livingston Alexander, president Photos by Alan Hancock

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