Clarion University conferred 286 degrees during its 2014 Winter Commencement ceremony Dec. 13 in Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium.
Presidents Emeriti Joe Grunenwald and Diane Reinhard attended to assist President Karen Whitney in awarding the President’s Medallion to Vice President of Student Affairs Harry Tripp in recognition of his extraordinary service to students and the university community during his 21-year tenure.
As head of Clarion's Advancement Division from 1993 to 2013, Tripp professionalized the university's efforts to build and strengthen relationships with diverse constituencies and encourage investment in and support of the university and its programs and initiatives. Under his guidance, Clarion successfully completed its first comprehensive capital campaign and numerous other targeted capital appeals. During his years of development work, the Clarion University Foundation, Inc., provided more than $57 million in support of student scholarships, grants, special projects and programs, while endowment funds grew from $2 million to over $26 million. Tripp will retire in January.
Commencement speaker was Clarion alumnus and former student leader Tim Smith ('04), who earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Finance. During his years at Clarion, Smith was active in Student Senate and the Clarion Students' Association, serving as chair of the CSA Board of Directors for two years. He currently serves as a data protection and availability specialist for EMC, a leading cloud computing, Big Data and IT solutions company.
Also sharing remarks were PASSHE Board of Governors member and former Clarion University Student Senate president Todd Garrett and outgoing Clarion University student trustee Darren Young.
Among the graduates receiving degrees at 2014 Winter Commencement are (from left) Justin Metzler of Erie, sports management; Cara DelMaestro of Philadelphia, rehabilitative science; and Camille Baker, Pittsburgh, rehabilitative science.