By Maureen Farrell
Pursue a career you feel passionate about and success will follow.
That's what William Weldon, chief executive officer of Johnson & Johnson, told graduates at the 78th Undergraduate Commencement on May 17. During his address to the 1,318 graduates, Weldon offered advice from his long career at Johnson & Johnson, where he has worked since graduating from Quinnipiac in 1971.
"You have to be at peace with yourself and know that some things are more important than a grander title or a bigger paycheck," Weldon said. "If you truly have a passion for your work, your success and income will follow. If you have a passion for money first -well, you only have to read the headlines to see what happens," Weldon said.
Weldon also urged graduates to develop strong leadership skills, both in their personal and professional lives. "Your effectiveness as a leader will be judged by the extent to which you have allowed others to contribute to your success and the extent to which you have contributed to theirs," Weldon said.
"Every day, try to do the right things in the right way, stay focused on your vision and let the future take care of itself. That's probably the best single piece of advice I can offer you."
Weldon, a member of the University's Board of Trustees, received an honorary degree at the ceremony.
Dawn D'Amato of North Haven, Conn., received her bachelor's degree in nursing after seven years in school. She started the program as a part-time student in 2002, while working full time as a medical assistant for a doctor's office in New Haven. She was joined at Commencement by numerous friends, coworkers and family members, including her 14- and 11-year old children.
Completing her bachelor's degree was "harder than I thought," D'Amato said. But her hard work paid off: she was awarded the Quinnipiac Alumni Association Award for Holistic Nursing as well as the Nightingale Award for Nursing Excellence from the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut. In June, she will join the nursing staff in the oncology department at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport.
Fellow graduate Stephen Callahan, a communications major from Berkley, Mass., says he's optimistic about his job prospects despite the current economic climate. He's planning to search for job in field of media management, media research or public relations. He plans to pursue his PhD in cultural studies and sociology a few years down the road. "I know that no matter what happens, I'm planning to go back to school," he said. Callahan received the Alumni Association Academic Achievement Award for the School of Communications, which is given to the student who has earned the highest grade point average among students in the school.
Classmate Michelle Zulawski of North Haven, Conn., received the Alumni Association Academic Achievement Award for the School of Business. An entrepreneurship major, Zulawski is headed to law school this fall. But she won't have far to go; she was accepted to the Quinnipiac's School of Law, where she plans to focus on corporate law. "I'm looking forward to getting to know my classmates," she said.
Sociology major Rachael Weintraub is also continuing her education at Quinnipiac. She will begin classes in the MAT program in elementary education in about a month. Weintraub was one of five students who traveled to Nicaragua this past spring to lead a conference for local teachers. "It was such an amazing experience. It's so inspiring to see how much they do with so little. It motivates me to want to be the best teacher I can be. I'm grateful for everything I have," she said. Weintraub, who is from North Attleboro, Mass., earned the Alumni Association Academic Achievement Award for the College of Arts and Sciences. This year, the award was given to two students in the school with the same GPA.
Classmate Sabrina Browning, a biology major from Trumbull, Conn., also received the Alumni Association Academic Achievement Award for the College of Arts and Sciences. Browning will begin medical school in the fall. "I obviously have a lot of school in front of me, but I enjoy being in the classroom. I'm excited to begin this part of my life," she said.
Jessica Canhao of Danbury, Conn., received the President's Scholarship Award as well as the Alumni Association Academic Achievement Award for the School of Health Sciences. Canhao is enrolled in the six-and-a-half year physical therapy program at Quinnipiac, which leads to a doctor of physical therapy. Canhao says she is interested in specializing in aquatic therapy and may want to teach after practicing for a few years.
Todd Wolak, a finance major from Trumbull, Conn., is planning to look for jobs in his field. Wolak says if he's unable to find a job within six months, he'll return to school to pursue his MBA. "I'm looking for a job that fits what I want, not just any job," he said. Wolak says his ideal job would be at a large, Fortune 500 company where there is potential for growth and career advancement.
Jason Bond of Centerport, N.Y., delivered the response from the Class of 2009. Bond, who earned his bachelor of science in health/science studies, has accepted a position in the system business office at Yale New Haven Hospital.
He encouraged classmates to have confidence in the education they received at Quinnipiac and to be hopeful about the future.
"Our class will walk headlong into the toughest economy in our memories. I approach these times, however, with full confidence in the education we received at Quinnipiac University. I have faith that it will provide us with the tools we need to surpass the tough competition we will encounter as our careers unfold."