Pursuit of truth: Assumption University holds graduation at DCU Center

WORCESTER — Assumption University students at the school's undergraduate ceremony Sunday at the DCU Center were told that their Catholic education will allow the pursuit of truth wherever it can be found.

That includes particle physics, as Aaron Dominguez, who gave the commencement address, was involved in the successful search for a key subatomic particle known as the Higgs boson in 2012. Dominguez currently serves as the provost at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C..

In the search for what is true, "we are thoroughly participating in God's plan for us," Dominguez said. "It leads us closer to God to find out his plan." A Catholic education gives examples "of how to orient ourselves to bring Christ into our lives."

More: Words of wisdom: Commencement dates and speakers, Central Mass. colleges

Assumption University, a private, Catholic university, was celebrating its 107th commencement Sunday. About 415 graduates earned 485 degrees, with 69 graduates earning double majors and one earning a triple major, according to statistics provided by the university as of May 7. The top five majors were health sciences, marketing (including concentrations in digital marketing and sales marketing), human services and rehabilitation studies, psychology (including concentrations) and management.

Fifty-six percent of graduates were women and 44% were men. Eighteen states and territories were represented and four countries other than the United States — Australia, Brazil, Norway and the United Kingdom. The average age of graduates was 22 years, 146 days.

The pursuit of truth and a Catholic education was the theme of several people who spoke, but the ceremonies also had a festive graduation and Mother's Day atmosphere.

The opening procession of the graduating class to the music of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance march played by Assumption student brass instrumentalists was greeted with applause and cheers from the many onlookers of family and friends.

"Happy Mother's Day," said Assumption University president Greg S. Weiner at the beginning of his address.

The graduating class of 2024 was given the opportunity to stand and applaud not only their mothers but everyone who had helped them make it to the auspicious day.

"An Assumption education is the formation of the whole person...The common aim of our education is the pursuit of truth," said Emily Fasteson, a theology and mathematics double major from Seekonk who gave the valedictory address. Fasteson was a head tutor in the Academic Support Center, a student leader in Campus Ministry and a member of the Theology Club.

"We all pursue the truth in different ways," she said. However, "We are made to be with other people...This is the fundamental truth of a Catholic, liberal education. We are made for connectedness. The transformative power of our education comes in participating in it." She noted that mothers are, "the first person we were ever connected to." With that, "the entire world is deeply interconnected...the whole world needs each of our contributions."

Dominguez said that both his work in the laboratory as a particle physicist and the wonderment in a Catholic mass have informed his vocation as a professor and provost.

"What is a Catholic education?" he asked. "What about calculus or physics?"

As part of a team using particle colliders, his work was sort of a search for a missing link in physics that had been going on for 48 years.

Of the celebration in 2012 after the discovery of the Higgs boson, "I had never seen anything like it," Dominguez said.

"What is the moral of this story?" he asked. "Well, it was a search for truth...This is a very Catholic thing to do."

Weiner said his wish for the graduating class is that they have "humility, courage and charity." Touching on the unrest on some campuses nationwide currently he said, "society is experiencing a crisis of intellectual arrogance." His challenge to the graduates is to, "be the answer to the crises of arrogance and moralism." Looking around the DCU Center, "How could we feel anything but hope?" he asked.

Dominguez received an honorary degree. Also receiving honorary degrees were: Robert DeMott, a 1965 graduate of Assumption and a noted scholar of the works of author John Steinbeck; and Michael F. Collins, chancellor of UMass Chan Medical School since 2008.

The Assumption University Graduate School commencement ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Plourde Recreation Center on the university campus.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Assumption University holds graduation