The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg will hold its 33rd Commencement on Saturday, May 1, in the Chambers Hall Gymnasium (150 Finoli Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601). This Commencement will mark the graduation of Pitt-Greensburg’s first cohort of nursing students and will feature the Legacy Diploma presentations that are unique to the Greensburg campus.
This year, three ceremonies will be held to allow for the adequate social distancing of those in attendance. Each graduate will sit in a “pod” with his or her two guests. Admission is by ticket only. Graduates will not process in or out of the gymnasium, and face coverings will be required.
The ceremony itself has also been trimmed down to its essential components. There will be no additional awards presented at this year’s event, nor is there a special Commencement speaker. The intent is to focus on the graduates and their accomplishment, giving them an opportunity to celebrate, while following COVID-19 health guidelines.
- 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. -- 40 graduates will receive Bachelor of Arts degrees
- 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. -- 57 graduates will receive Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Mathematics, Bio-Chemistry, Biological Science, Chemistry, Natural Science, Nursing, and Information Technology
- 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. -- 63 graduates will receive Bachelor of Science degrees in Management, Healthcare Management, Accounting, Information Systems, Early Childhood Education, Secondary Education, and Psychology
Pitt-Greensburg’s Commencement will also be live-streamed via the Internet. Anyone desiring to view the ceremony from their personal computer, tablet computer, or smart phone, can visit https://www.greensburg.pitt.edu/academics/commencement Saturday, May 1, and click on the link for each ceremony to view the live stream.
Of the 253 students who are eligible to graduate, 160 students have registered to participate in the 2021 Commencement ceremonies.
A representative group of faculty, staff, and dignitaries will participate in the ceremonies, including:
- Robert G. Gregerson, PhD, president of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
- Jacqueline Horrall, PhD, vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
- 10 a.m.: Stacey Triplette, PhD, associate professor of Spanish and French, in the role of Grand Marshal
- 1 p.m./4p.m.: Benjamin Espinoza, PhD, professor of mathematics and chair of the natural sciences division, in the role of Grand Marshal
- 10 a.m.: A. David Tilstone, Pitt-Greensburg Advisory Board chairman of Export, PA
- 1 p.m.: Tomas Tantos, Pitt-Greensburg Advisory Board member of Greensburg, PA
- Student Speakers:
- 10 a.m. ceremony: Amber Peddicord, who is graduating summa cum laude with a double major in English literature and communication, from Greensburg, PA
- 1 p.m. ceremony: Malena Galluci, who is graduating summa cum laude with a degree in nursing, from Hazleton, PA
- 4 p.m. ceremony: Kathleen Price, the class valedictorian who is graduating summa cum laude with a degree in psychology, from Altoona, PA,
- Robert Najim, ’93, CPA, CPIM, MBA, from Alverton, PA, president of the Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association Board, will assist with the distribution of honor cords
Pitt-Greensburg’s first cohort of nursing students will graduate during this year. They will receive their diplomas during the 1 p.m. ceremony. The eight graduates who will receive Pitt-Greensburg’s first-ever Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees are:
- Jennifer Fitzgerald, from McMurray, PA, will be working as a registered nurse in the Pediatric Cardiology Department at UPMC-Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
- Malena Gallucci, from Hazelton, PA, has accepted a position at Geisinger Medical Center where she will participate in the Graduate Nurse Residency Program in the cardiac intensive care unit.
- Hanna Horner, of Latrobe, PA, will be starting out in the postpartum area of the labor and delivery department at Excela Westmoreland Hospital.
- Kaylee McClelland, from Greensburg, PA, is still reviewing her options, which include working in a doctor’s office, working in the child psychology unit at Excela Latrobe Hospital, or accepting a traveling nurse position.
- Christina Pacacha is from Hunker, PA. She has accepted a job at UPMC-Magee Women’s Hospital as a registered nurse in the Womancare Birth Center. Her long-range plans include returning to school to become a certified nurse-midwife.
- Jordan Prines, of North Huntingdon, PA, has accepted a position with UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital.
- Emily Stein, of Latrobe, PA, has accepted a position as a labor and delivery nurse at Excela Westmoreland Hospital.
- Madison Swiger, of Greensburg, PA, has accepted a position with the Step-Down Unit at Excela Westmoreland Hospital.
As part of Pitt-Greensburg’s Legacy Diploma Co-Presentations, 11 students will receive their diplomas from Dr. Robert Gregerson and members of their families who also hold degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt-Greensburg is the only campus in the Pitt system to offer this opportunity to graduates and their families. It is a visual illustration that Pitt-Greensburg graduates join a large “family” of graduates from the many schools and campuses that comprise the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt-Greensburg faculty and staff are also invited to participate in the Legacy Diploma co-presentations. The Legacy Diploma presentations will include:
10 a.m. ceremony:
- Maxwell Davies, a political science major from Greensburg, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by his mother Amy Delo Davies A&S ’91, EDU ’92, and his father James Harold Davies CGS ’00.
- Katherine Hope, a political science major from Greensburg, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by her mother, Lisa Tranquill Hope, the interim director of Admissions and assistant director of Operations and Analytics at Pitt-Greensburg.
- Jacob Snyder, a history major from Murrysville, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by his wife, Sarah Randolph Snyder SHRS ’02.
- Rachel Worthy, a criminal justice major from Grapeville, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by her father, Clifford Worthy, a member of the Pitt-Greensburg Facilities Maintenance staff.
4 p.m. ceremony:
- Lucas Ali, an early childhood education major from Greensburg, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by his mother, Vicki Draskovich Ali ’86.
- Cassandra Colland, a management accounting/information technology major from Scottdale, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by her mother Ronna Sarsfield Colland ’87, director of Finance and Risk at Pitt-Greensburg.
- Scott Critchfield II, a management major from Latrobe, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by his father, Scott Critchfield ’90.
- Michael Dubosky, a management major from Greensburg, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by his sister, Christina Dubosky ’13.
- Terrance Madarish, a secondary education major from Greensburg, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by his father Terrance Madarish A&S ’81.
- Brittany Platt, a psychology major from Glenshaw, PA, whose degree will be co-presented, by her father, Thomas Platt, EdD, NRP, CGS ’95, EDUC ’07.
- Kathleen Price, a psychology major from Altoona, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by her brother, Patrick Price SCI ’14.
- Danielle Romano, a management major from Irwin, PA, whose degree will be co-presented by her mother Dana Carol Romano ’96.
Four DaVinci Scholars will graduate this year. These are students who have met the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, community service, and global awareness. They are:
- Mya Cole, a biological sciences from Pittsburgh, PA;
- Kiara DeVore, a history major from Philadelphia, PA;
- Jacqueline Drazdzinski, a healthcare management major from Pittsburgh, PA;
- Jacob Snyder, a history major from Murrysville, PA.
Pitt-Greensburg students received numerous honors and recognitions at the close of the academic year.
The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg was assigned degree-granting status in 1988, making this the 33rd Commencement that the campus has held. Prior to 1988, students would attend Pitt-Greensburg for two years and then transfer to the Oakland campus (or another degree-granting institution) to complete their degrees. Students who have completed three or more semesters of course work at Pitt-Greensburg are considered alumni of the campus.
Founded in 1963, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is a publicly assisted, four-year, liberal arts college in southwestern Pennsylvania. Pitt-Greensburg offers 31 baccalaureate degree programs, as well as 19 minors, and numerous pre-professional options.