More than 700 undergraduate and graduate students received degrees at Wilkes University’s 62nd annual spring commencement on Saturday, May 16 at Wachovia Arena. Click here to see a slideshow or photo gallery.

John Brooks Slaughter, Ph.D., P.E., President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, who served as the first African American director of the National Science Foundation , delivered the keynote address.  Slaughter, who was a mentor to Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University president, urged graduates to follow the precepts of “Excellence, Perseverance, Boldness and Optimism” as they make their way in the world.  Click here to read the full text of his commencement address, “Building Your Future.” Slaughter also was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters at the ceremony.

David Sborz of Minersville, Pa., senior class president and the recipient of the Alumni Award for Leadership, addressed his class.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, with double majors in Criminology and Political Science. Read more…

Three students were the recipients of the Wandell Awards, presented to the man and woman in the graduating class who have earned the highest grade-point average during their years at Wilkes. The award is made possible througha give from the Wandell family and is given in memory of Mable Scott Wandell and Sterling Leroy Wandell. This year, two women tied for the women’s honor.

Winners of this year’s Wandell award are:

• Johanna Schechter of Bath, Pa., was awarded the Wandell Award for graduating with a perfect 4.0.  Schechter earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, with a major in psychology and a minor in women’s studies. Read more…
• Christine Zavaskas of Wyoming, Pa., was awarded the Wandell Award for graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, with a major in Communications. Read more…
• Kyle Sharp of Berkshire, N.Y., was awarded the Wandell Award for graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.  Sharp earned a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, with a major in Biology. Read more…