The
University of St. Francis will graduate more than
425 students from 23 states at commencement ceremonies
Saturday, Aug. 9. USF President Michael Vinciguerra
will present diplomas during ceremonies in the
university’s Recreation Center.
Commencement
ceremonies begin at 11:30 a.m. and are preceded
by Mass at 9:30 a.m. Some 223 students earned
bachelor’s degrees in a variety of areas,
including in the Health Arts program, which is
offered nationwide. About 205 students earned
master’s degrees in business, education or
health care programs. Among the graduates will
be the first from the university’s master
of science in nursing program, which began in
fall 2000.
Commencement
speaker will be the Rev. Raymond Lescher, a priest
in the Joliet Diocese and pastor of Sacred Heart
Church, a predominately African-American congregation
in Joliet.
Lescher was ordained in 1963, and has spent his
entire priesthood serving in African-American
and Hispanic congregations. Lescher is a member
of the Presidential Advisory Council
on Diversity for the University of St. Francis.
Lescher
holds a bachelor’s degree from the University
of Notre Dame and received a licentiate degree
in theology from Loral University, Quebec, Canada.
A
national leader in offering educational programs
to working health care professionals, the University
of St. Francis offers programs at sites throughout
the country and online. Other graduate programs
are also offered online.
The University of St. Francis, at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet, serves more than 4,000 students nationwide, including 1,300 at its Joliet campus. The university offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study, including arts and sciences, education, nursing, business and professional arts. Ten graduate degrees in health care, education and business are offered.