Nearly 950 graduates across all degree levels were celebrated at the Pitt Business Class of 2024 Spring Commencement Ceremony at the Petersen Events Center on April 27, 2024. The student and faculty speakers shared words of encouragement and inspiration.
Henry E. Haller Jr. Dean Gene Anderson congratulated the graduates, telling them to “live each day with a curious and open mind, a generous and grateful spirit, and a burning devotion to inclusion and justice wherever you go and whatever you do.”
Leading up to commencement, awards ceremonies were held for graduate and undergraduate students along with faculty. Students who were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honor society, were also recognized at those awards ceremonies.
The graduates’ degrees included: Doctor of Philosophy; MBA (including part-time, full-time and executive); Master of Science (MS); MBA/MS joint degrees; and Bachelor’s degrees, including students who also earned a degree from the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences or School of Computing and Information.
All of the graduates’ names are available in the commencement program. The video replay of the entire ceremony and speakers is available along with personal reflections and messages of thanks and reflections from nearly 100 graduates.
Personal Connections Enrich Life
Graduate faculty speaker Prakash Mirchandani, a professor of Business Administration, director of the Center for Supply Chain Management, and academic director of the Executive MBA Program, spoke at the Pete about the connections formed between students, faculty, and staff.
“Each interaction, whether it was a spirited debate in the classroom or a late-night study session, has left an indelible mark on our journey together,” said Mirchandani. “It’s through these relationships that we’ve learned invaluable lessons – lessons in empathy, collaboration, and the art of understanding diverse perspectives.”
The undergraduate faculty speaker, Nicole Cade, associate professor of Business Administration and Robert W. Murphy Junior Faculty Fellow, reminded the students of their influence on others.
“As you move on to the next phase of life, consider that whether you realize it or not, you have influence,” said Cade. “You have already impacted lives, including mine. In a challenging time, you reminded me of the power of showing up, of a positive attitude, of human connection. Keep doing you.”
The Power of Resilience and Determination
Nathan Salapong, the undergraduate student speaker, reminded those graduating with bachelor’s degrees of their first year when they attended class from their dorm rooms and their eagerness to gain a sense of normalcy.
“Our presence here today is a testament to our resilience and determination, honed through navigating myriad changes. Though it may be tempting to seek comfort in familiarity, we recognize that growth thrives beyond our comfort zones,” said Salapong.
Make a Positive Impact
Always choose good, that was the message from the graduate student speaker, Akshay Agarwal.
“As we embark on the next chapter of our lives, let us carry forward the values instilled in us by our alma mater—integrity, excellence, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us,” said Agarwal.
He illustrated the choices we make with a comparison of words in the English language: “Remember, hate has four letters, but so does love. The word enemies has seven letters, but so does friends. Failure has seven letters, but so does success. Negativity has 10 letters but so does positivity. You always have a choice, so choose the better side of it.”
Dean Anderson’s closing remarks told the graduates to, “remember that true success is not about wealth or power. True success is about how well you use your personal talents and success for the betterment of others and our world.”
