Governor sends off UPB grads

Among the graduates who received their diplomas at Sunday's ceremony in Bradford were (from left) Casey Freer, Nikki Smoker, Kelly Allison, Brittany McLean, Tracy Andrus, Kerry Bresslin and Brian Reid.

Governor Ed Rendell cautioned 2007 graduates of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to not be blinded by materialism and personal wealth.

Appearing as the school's commencement speaker on Sunday, Rendell said wealth and possessions alone do not create fulfillment.

"I've met some of the richest, most famous people, and many of them are bitterly unhappy," the governor said.

He suggested that the graduate measure their success based on "loving what you do . . . (and) don't let someone else define success for you."

Many young people today are reluctant to take chances with their careers because they are afraid of failure, Rendell pointed out.

"Don't let anybody tell you what you can't accomplish," he said. "There is no disgrace in failing."

One measure of true success, the governor added, is the extent to which a person's actions benefit others.

"As a college graduate, you've been fortunate," Rendell said. "Now, find time to give back. Go out and do great things. And do it in Pennsylvania."

Among the graduates who received their diplomas at Sunday's ceremony were:

Potter County: Misty L. Reed, elementary education; Valerie L. Coole, sports medicine; Katie Sue Gentzyel, elementary education and human relations; Nicholas P. Heroux, communications and criminal justice.

Cameron County: RaeAnn Mahovlich, accounting and business management; Jennifer Zucal, nursing; Casey Freer, sports medicine and sports and recreation management; Nikki Smoker, human relations; Kelly Allison, elementary education; Keith Summerson, criminal justice; Meredith Zoschg, criminal justice; Angela Caruso, business management; Brittany McLean, applied mathematics; Tracy Andrus, athletic training; Benjamin Bickford, nursing; Cheryl Dixon, sports medicine; Kerry Bresslin, elementary education and human relations; and Brian Reid, computer science.