Bush to speak at St. Vincent College
LATROBE – When the graduating class at St. Vincent College in Latrobe dons their caps and gowns for graduation May 11, the typical Pomp and Circumstance serenade might be mingled with Hail to the Chief. The White House announced Monday that President Bush will give the address at the college’s commencement ceremonies this year.
The announcement comes after St. Vincent Chancellor and Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki extended an invitation to Bush last year, college officials said.
Nowicki made the announcement at press conference in downtown Pittsburgh Monday.
“We are deeply honored that President Bush will speak at St. Vincent, the first standing president to do so,” Nowicki said. “I was optimistic that he would accept our invitation since we are having one of the most exciting years in our history. It is going to be a memorable day for the graduates and their families and friends and one that will become a cherished part of St. Vincent history for many, many years to come.”
Joining Nowicki at the announcement Monday were J. Christopher Donahue, president and chief executive officer of Federated Investors, who also is chairman of the St. Vincent College Board of Directors, and H. James Towey, president of St. Vincent College.
Last July, Towey was named the 16th president of St. Vincent College. He previously was a top aide to Bush, serving as director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Prior to that, Towey also had worked with Mother Teresa for 12 years as legal counsel and volunteer in her missions in the United States and Mexico.
According to college officials, Bush has given the commencement address at 16 institutions of higher education, including nine private and public colleges. This will be the president’s first commencement address at a Pennsylvania college and only the second at a Catholic institution.
St. Vincent’s public relations director Don Orlando said the college has played host to a wide range of commencement speakers over the past two decades including former Fred Rogers, Art Rooney II, John Murtha and Arnold Palmer.
“This is only the second time Bush has spoken at a Catholic college,” Orlando said. “He spoke at Notre Dame a few years ago. So this is really an honor for us.”
Orlando said the college has yet to receive security instructions from the White House regarding the visit, but added that the college will “do whatever we need to” to prepare for the president’s speech.
“The students are really excited,” Orlando said. “It is going to be a wonderful day for Saint Vincent’s and a great day for Pennsylvania.”
St. Vincent College – a Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college – was founded in 1846.
Commencement will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 11, in the Robert S. Carey Student Center.
Further details about the college’s commencement ceremony can be found online at http://www.stvincent.edu/commencement_07.