Who’s Giving Central MA Grads Advice This Year?

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Commencement season 2014 is underway, and that means for soon-to-be college graduates, hearing from notable graduation speakers on the big diploma day.

GoLocal has who's giving the big talks -- and who the colleges are giving out honorary degrees to as well.

Who's Speaking in Central Massachusetts?

Notable speakers include Ron Shaich '76 of Clark University who founded Panera Bread, groundbreaking HIV researcher John L. Sullivan, M.D at Worcester State University, and Bernard Amadei, who founded Engineers Without Borders, will appear at WPI.

Here is the complete list of the commencement speakers and notable honorary degree getters at colleges and universities in Central Mass this commencement season.

Related Slideshow: Who’s Giving The Grads Advice This Year?

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Anna Maria College

Saturday, May 17

Commencement speaker: Sister Yvette E. Bellerose

Honorary degrees:

Raymond Lauring will receive an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration
Edith M. LaVigne ’63 will posthumously receive an Honorary Doctor of Human Service
Therese Noury, SSA ’68 will receive an Honorary Doctor of Human Service

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Assumption College

Saturday, May 17

Commencement speaker: Frances Hogan, Boston-based attorney and humanitarian

Honorary degrees:

Frances Hogan
Janice “Jan” L. Fuller P’92, retired vice president of finance at Refco Inc./IDG New England
Mark W. Fuller P’92, vice president of Worcester-based Benefit Development Group
Fr. Benoît Grière, A.A., Superior General of the Augustinians of the Assumption
Dr. Paul Carpentier, M.D., C.F.C.M.C. ’82, ne of only three FertilityCare medical consultants in New England

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Becker College

Saturday, May 10

Commencement speaker: Len Gengel, Be Like Brit co-founder and Becker alumnus

Honorary degrees:

Cherylann Gengel, founding the 19,000-square-foot Be Like Brit orphanage in Grand Goave, Haiti
Dr. Sheila Harrity, Ed.D., is the principal of Worcester Technical High School

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Clark University

Sunday, May 18

Commencement speaker: Ron Shaich '76, Co-founded Panera Bread

Honorary degrees:

Cynthia Enloe, research professor in Clark’s International Development, Community, and Environment Department, is known around the world for her feminist teaching and research on women’s politics.
Michael Crow is president of Arizona State University. Sharing Clark’s vision, he is nationally recognized for innovative leadership and his commitment to a “reinvention” of the American research university model, focused on academic excellence and access.

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College of the Holy Cross

Friday, May 23

Commencement speaker: Jon Favreau '03, former director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama

Honorary degrees:

Rochelle M. Bard '98, critically acclaimed soprano
Rev. John W. Padberg, S.J., director and editor of the St. Louis-based Institute of Jesuit Sources

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Worcester State University

Saturday, May 17

Commencement speaker: John L. Sullivan, M.D, groundbreaking HIV researcher
Honorary degree: John L. Sullivan, M.D.

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Saturday, May 17

Commencement speaker: Bernard Amadei, Founder of Engineers Without Borders

Honorary degrees:

Robert A. Foisie '56, retired founder of Matik North America Inc.
Sheila M. Harrity, nationally recognized principal of Worcester Technical High School
Stephen E. Rubin ’74, entrepreneur and former chairman of the WPI Board of Trustees