College News
College Graduates Record Number; Altoona Native and Alum Delivers Address
Penn State Altoona celebrated its largest graduating class on May 6, 2006, when 269 graduates received their degrees. This year also marked the first year that the college graduated students enrolled in Penn State Altoona's new History degree program. Of the total number of graduates, 192 received baccalaureate degrees and seventy-seven received associate degrees. The most popular majors included nursing, engineering technology, business, and criminal justice.
Marianne Misciagna Young, M.D., delivered the commencement address. Misciagna is a member of the radiation oncology team of Southwest Radiation Oncology at The Frank C. Love Cancer Institute at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, renowned for offering the most advanced diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of cancers. She was selected by her peers as one of the Best Doctors in America and one of the Best Doctors in Oklahoma in 2005.
An Altoona native and former Penn State Altoona student, Young served her country as a United States Army Officer from 1977-94. In addressing the graduates, she noted that returning to Penn State Altoona for commencement brought back so many wonderful memories, having grown up just across the road from Ivyside Park in addition to attending Penn State Altoona.
Young shared two "philosophies" with the new graduates. She first told them that life and their futures are "great big unknowns" and urged them to listen to opportunity when it knocks, even during darker times. She illustrated this point with her own experience, recalling the moment during her military service when she realized that her true calling was in the medical profession.
She then urged the graduates to "seek happiness every day of your lives" and to foster a habit of "deep, contemplative thought. Every day you live is a special event; don't wait to do what you want." Young concluded by citing a favorite quote by Winston Churchill: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."