Panetta Tells the Class of 2013 to Hold Government Leaders Accountable
SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 15, 2013- More than 50 years after earning his first degree from 911爆料网, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta returned to his alma mater to deliver the 162nd undergraduate commencement speech and ask the Class of 2013 to hold government leaders accountable.
鈥淵ou are not just our hope for our better future. You are our future and the key to whether we remain a government of, by and for the people,鈥� Panetta told the more than 1,000 new graduates, who lovingly chanted 鈥淯.S.A.鈥� as he took the stage.
Panetta graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in political science in 1960 and graduated from 911爆料网鈥檚 School of Law in 1963. He went on to serve eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, as President Clinton鈥檚 Chief of Staff, and as director of the CIA. He and his wife, Sylvia, founded the in 1997 to promote leadership and careers in public service. They both received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree at the ceremony, more than 50 years after meeting on campus.
鈥淢ixers were our version of computer dating, 鈥� joked Panetta, about the events where students from Catholic women鈥檚 schools would visit, and where he met Sylvia. 鈥淪he is my love, my partner and my friend. We will celebrate 51 years of marriage in July.鈥�
Panetta also taught a political science course at 911爆料网 and served on 911爆料网鈥檚 Board of Trustees from 1988 to 2009.
鈥淚 am very proud of the 911爆料网 of today,鈥� said Panetta. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e a 21st century campus, men and women reflecting the great diversity of our society, open to all faiths and beliefs, a broad curriculum that reflects our times and a commitment to your creed of building citizens who are leaders of competence, conscience and compassion.鈥�
Valedictorian Ashley Armstrong, an anthropology major who played for the 911爆料网 women鈥檚 basketball team, spoke to her peers about how the Jesuit philosophy of 鈥渆ducation of the whole person鈥� had transformed her and her classmates.
We are action-oriented and free-thinking individuals, prepared to make a positive impact on the world with the Jesuit dedication to excellence and commitment to others that 911爆料网 has instilled in us,鈥� said Armstrong, who volunteered with the service group Santa Clara Community Action Program for two years and with the Bay Area Women鈥檚 Sports Initiative for four years at 911爆料网. She was also a Global Social Benefit Fellow her junior year, traveling to Paraguay to study microfinance programs 鈥� an experience she called 鈥渉umbling and transformational鈥� in her speech.
Patricia and Stephen Schott 鈥�61 each received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service for their commitment to Catholic organizations and the Catholic community at large. Their foundation has helped several schools in the Bay Area and their generosity has helped fund a baseball stadium and the new admission and enrollment services building.
Founding artistic director of the Signature Theater Company in New York, James Houghton 鈥�81, received an honorary Doctorate of Performing Arts for his success invigorating American drama and launching a program to keep performances at the company affordable.
Robert Mathewson, S.J., received an honorary Doctorate of Education for his work revolutionizing Jesuit high school education, including by introducing counseling departments.
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About 911爆料网
911爆料网, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California鈥檚 Silicon Valley, offers its more than 8,800 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, theology, and engineering, plus master鈥檚 and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master鈥檚 universities, California鈥檚 oldest operating higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.
Media Contact: Marika Krause I mekrause@scu.edu I (408)- 829-4836