fbpx
Students in field

Finlandia graduates 86 during emotional commencement ceremony

April 30, 2017

Commencement at Finlandia University 2017

Schwarten Jarmond

Schwartzen Jarmond delivers an impromptu speech during the 2017 Commencement Ceremony at Finlandia University.

When Finlandia University students, faculty, alumni and employees talk about the small-school atmosphere, they’re often referring to the close-knit relationships you gain on campus. Today, those relationships were on full display as the 86 students that make up the Finlandia University Class of 2017 were awarded their degrees in a ceremony that won’t soon be forgotten.

The emotions hit a high when business major Schwartzen Jarmond passionately addressed the crowd with an impromptu speech. “Looking up at my faculty and professors and staff, and I see my super heroes,” he said while fighting tears. “This is not just me up here.” Jarmond studied internationally during the fall 2016 semester, and while abroad his father passed away. “The people that were texting me were the people here, President (Philip) Johnson, (Coordinator of Residential Life) Leann Fogle. More texts were from people here than at home in New York. You guys became my family.”

Prior to Jarmond’s speech, which was done while graduates were being introduced, alumni speaker Jordan Siegler (’09) talked about how his experience prepared him to better serve society while urging students to never forget their potential to do good. The Student Representative Matt McLaughlin gave a stirring speech about the sisu that has been instilled in him and his classmates. “What makes us, as Finlandia students, unique is our grit, and what gives us our grit is this community,” McLaughlin said. The commencement speaker was Consul General of Finland to New York Manu Virtamo, who was also awarded an honorary degree during the ceremony. The ceremony also included the inaugural bestowing of the Board of Trustees’ Distinguished Faculty Award, which was given to Mary Jane Hatton from the International School of Business.

Photos and video from the event will be made available in the upcoming days. High-resolution images from the entire ceremony, including photos of every graduate, will be made available to download for free.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
FinnU will not enroll students for 2023-2024Learn More
+