Hope Andrews of Pleasant Valley earns Bachelor of Arts degree from Alvernia University
READING, PA (06/08/2022)– Hope Andrews of Pleasant Valley has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree after completing all the requirements for graduation during the 2021-22 academic year. Andrews majored in Early Childhood PK-4 & Special Education PK-12 while studying at Alvernia University.
Andrews is one of over 670 Alvernia students who earned associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Alvernia University during the 2021-22 academic year. Graduates from August 2021, December 2021 and May 2022 celebrated by walking across the stage on May 14, 2022 at the Physical Education Center on Alvernia’s main campus.
The university celebrated in person with 450 graduates over two commencement ceremonies. The College of Health Sciences and the College of S.T.E.A.M. graduates were celebrated at 9:30 a.m. and the College of Business, Communication and Leadership and the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences graduates were celebrated at 2:30 p.m.
“Graduates, as you celebrate, also express your gratitude to those who believed in you, sacrificed for you and helped lead you to this significant achievement,” said Alvernia University President John R. Loyack. “You also have the opportunity to be part of some new traditions at AU to thank those who have helped along the way. You can present your Alvernia stole to someone who supported you and made a difference. You can recognize all who supported you with a picture in front of the wolf. A few of many ways to say thank you for their support.”
Rebekah Machamer ’22 was the student speaker at the morning ceremony and Shontae Campbell ’22 was the student speaker at the afternoon ceremony.
“We are the next generation of innovative, smart, capable adults, and we can do anything,” said Machamer. “I don’t just want to stand up here and bore you with my life story, I want you to understand that you are incredible, you can make a difference. You are going to save someone’s life one day, you are going to help that patient walk again, you are going to become a marketing manager and run your own corporation, and you are going to be on the front cover of a magazine for being the best journalist.”
Pennsylvania State Senator Judy Schwank and local entrepreneur and Alvernia trustee Barry Schlouch were presented with honorary degrees during the ceremony. Schwank also provided remarks for both ceremonies.
Each of you has the power to transform the world,” said Schwank. “You have it in your hearts. You have it in your mind. You hold it in your hands. Go out and be that agent of transformational change. Please, our community needs you, our Commonwealth needs you, our nation, indeed, our world needs each and every one of you to do her and his part.”
Alvernia University is a Catholic comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1958. The university serves over 3,000 students in Reading, Pottsville and Philadelphia with a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts education, strong technical training in many high demand majors, ever-expanding experiential learning opportunities through study abroad and internship experiences and community engagement through its Franciscan-based community service model.
