Release Date:  May 19, 2009
Contact:  Kathy Popielski, popielskik@trocaire.edu
716-827-4343


BUFFALO, N.Y. -  Trocaire College President Dr. Paul B. Hurley Jr.,  conferred associate degrees and certificates to 304 graduates at the college’s 49th annual commencement ceremony on May 17 at Kleinhans Music Hall.

Nancy Hoff, RSM, President of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, New York, Pennyslvania & the Pacific West (NyPPaW), delivered the commencement address.  Hoff, whose board membership includes Trocaire College, the Catholic Health System and the Mount Mercy Academy Members Board, is a 1965 alumna of Trocaire.

Hoff’s message to the graduates was to “Pay Attention.”  “I would like to highlight six areas that I think are critical for you, the graduates, to be attentive to as you move on through life,” said Sr. Nancy Hoff.  “The first is: Pay attention to the fact that we are citizens of the world and are part of a larger world community.  Pay attention to your dreams and desires.  Pay attention to your relationships.  Pay attention to the lessons that you have learned at Trocaire: lessons about the dignity of every person; lessons about treating people with compassion and respect; lessons about the importance of professional competence; lessons about placing yourself at the service of others and going the extra mile for another person in need.  Pay attention to God at work in your life.  Lastly, pay attention to the blessings that come into your life every day.”

Sr. Nancy Hoff received an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology at the 2009 commencement for her significant contributions in the fields of education, scholarship, religious studies and health sciences and her unwavering support of the mission of Trocaire College.

The Invocation was given by Malika Pope, an Early Childhood Education graduate, and Kevin Ross, a Practical Nursing graduate, gave the Benediction.  Radiologic Technology graduate Gretchen Schroeder gave the student address noting that hard work, sacrifices and long hours have brought the graduates to this commencement day.  “Each of us began this journey blindly stepping on to a new path in our lives, to aspire to achieve a dream,” stated Schroeder.  “We have found out that at Trocaire, they believed in us and they did not doubt our potential.  Everyone in the whole Trocaire community wanted us to be successful and to reach our dream.”

Sixty-eight members of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges, also received their degrees at commencement.

A Baccalaureate Mass was held in the Mercy Center Chapel followed by a reception at the college.