Commencement Address Offers Graduates Final Review
Before having their degrees conferred, more than 350 soon-to-be-graduates attended one last review session as part of the commencement exercises for Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Outfitted in traditional commencement attire, Chuck Yeung, associate professor of physics, led the brief review as part of his commencement address to the class of 2006.
While preparing his remarks, Yeung reflected on his students’ wishes. “What students always wanted were review sessions before exams,” he explained. “So I thought, why not make our graduates happy, and offer one last review session before we send you on your way?”
Yeung went on to explain that, while he and his colleagues hope that a Penn State Behrend education has provided students with the knowledge to land “a rewarding job with a nice, fat paycheck or perhaps admission to a prestigious graduate program,” he hoped they also have learned some general lessons.
“First, push your limits,” Yeung began. “I hope that we have taught you that the things that are the most challenging are also those that are, in the end, most rewarding.
“Second, I hope that your experience at Penn State Behrend has given you a love of knowledge for the sake of knowledge…I hope that your experience at Penn State Behrend means that you will continue to strive to learn as much as you can,” he continued.
“Third, I hope that you have taken the opportunity to meet and make friends with people from many different backgrounds. Your time at Penn State Behrend will help you see the shades of gray inherent in every important issue in society.”
Yeung, who has taught physics at Penn State Behrend for 12 years, specializes in polymer dynamics, pattern formation and working with experimental groups on biophysical studies. He earned a Ph.D. and a Master of Science in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in physics from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
The complete text for Yeung's address is online, as well as a pictorial summary of the day’s events.