May 14, 2006 By Amanda Clegg 2 min read

CALIFORNIA – A crowd of family and friends more than 3,500 deep spilled over into three closed-circuit television rooms in order to watch a loved one graduate during the 162nd undergraduate commencement at California University of Pennsylvania on Saturday morning. Undergraduates receiving degrees in education and human services, liberal arts and science and technology totaled 584, and University President Angelo Armenti Jr. told the Class of 2006 they were “always welcome here” and they were joining a group of “educated and innovative leaders.”

Speaker R. William Funk, the leading recruiter of university and college presidents and chancellors in the nation and a 1970 graduate of the university, spoke to the class about three aspects important to a quality life: being a good person, dreaming big dreams and facing change head on.

“Don’t stop dreaming, don’t stop striving, keep dreaming big dreams,” he said. “You now have unlimited potential.”

Funk remembered the time he sat where the graduates were sitting and promised to keep his remarks brief.

“This is about those sitting on the floor, not those sitting on this platform,” he noted from behind the podium.

However, Funk has much to boast about.

Called the “guru of higher education recruiting,” Funk has headed more than 250 university and college president and chancellor searches during 23 years in the field. He put many university presidents in their office, including the presidents of the University of Miami, Cornell University and Syracuse University.

Funk earned his undergraduate degree at Cal U before going on to receive a master of arts degree in government from Ohio University and a master of science degree in industrial relations from the Krannert School of Industrial Administration at Purdue University. He also received Cal U’s Distinguished Alumnus award in 2005.

Funk said he wished he was responsible for the placement of Armenti at Cal U and commented on the “powerful magic” the school holds to “change lives.”

Funk encouraged graduating class not to “fear” change but to “embrace it.” “Not one of us likes change or uncertainty,” he said.

“When you leave here, you’re going to be enveloped by a world of constant change.” And Cal U helped them to prepare for that change, he said.