IUP confers degrees on Cambria County graduates; Gov. Shapiro urges class to 'enjoy the journey'

May 13—INDIANA, Pa. — Indiana University of Pennsylvania honored 1,566 graduates during commencement ceremonies Saturday at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex including five Cambria County graduates who completed their degrees with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Those Cambria County graduates are Chloe Croft, a safety, health and environmental applied sciences major from Johnstown; Kaitlyn Griffith, a biology major in ecology, conservation, and evolutionary biology track from Johnstown; Sydney Sheredy, a safety, health and environmental applied science major from Northern Cambria; Jenna Stancombe, a public health major from Johnstown; and Kailee St. Pierre, a criminology major in the Cook Honors College from Ebensburg.

The university also bestowed Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Indiana resident Ellen Sylves Ruddock, a 1966 IUP graduate, with honorary doctors of public service degrees.

Shapiro offered commencement remarks at the 2 p.m. ceremony.

Shapiro prepared the graduates to each be called by name to the stage where they would receive their degrees from IUP President Michael Driscoll.

"In a few minutes, President Driscoll will confer on you a hard-earned diploma, but while that moment will mark the end of your time here at IUP, please know that we call this ceremony a 'commencement' for a reason, because today, well, today marks a new beginning," he said.

"In the years to come, your paths will lead you to become teachers, lawyers, military service members and engineers, nurses, doctors and public servants. Some of you will sit behind a desk, some will sit behind a front-end loader, and some will stand you on your feet for hours at a time in a hospital."

He encouraged the students to enjoy the short walk across the stage.

Taking walks is something he urged the graduates to do often.

"Running has its benefits and place and time, but, at least if you are like me, when you go for a run, you put your head down and you focus on reaching your destination as quickly as possible," he said.

"Walking is different, when you walk your eyes are open to different paths, different people and different places right in front of you ... so my big advice to you is to take a walk ... If you let yourself enjoy the journey, if you walk in the direction you feel called to go you just might find yourself walking down a path no one has ever traveled before."

Shapiro closed his 10-minute address by referencing "Indiana's most famous son," Jimmy Stewart.

"Stewart appeared in many many iconic movies, 'It's a Wonderful Life,' 'Mr. Smith goes to Washington,' but I want to share a quote from one of his lesser film classics. It was actually the final film of his career, the great animated feature, 'An American Tale: Fievel Goes West,' " Shapiro said.

In that film, Stewart played Wylie Burp, a K-9 lawman "who keeps the peace and helps young Fievel the mouse find his way."

"He looks to Fievel and says, 'I don't know what's out there beyond those hills, but if you ride yonder, head up, eyes steady, heart open, I think one day you'll find that you are the hero you've been looking for,' " Shapiro said. "There's wisdom in that. No one knows what the future has in store, but if you walk your own path head up, eyes steady, heart open, you will accomplish much — if you believe in yourself and the power of your own unique path.

"So I wish you all a joyous commencement, a joyous and wonderful beginning, and I hope to see you on a walk sometime soon."

Russ O'Reilly is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat.

Bio Box Cambria County Chloe Croft, a safety, health, and environmental applied sciences major from Johnstown. Daughter of Jeff Croft of Johnstown and Karin Croft of Johnstown, she is a 2021 graduate of Central Cambria High School. She was inducted into Rho Sigma Kappa Safety Honor Society during her junior year and is a recipient of more than $30,000 in scholarships, including the Emily Lee Scholarship (2021 and 2023), Chevron Scholarship (2022 and 2023), American Society of Safety Professionals Western Pennsylvania Scholarship (2022 and 2023), Ohio Contractors Association Scholarship (2023), American Industrial Hygiene Foundation Scholarship (2023), American Society of Safety Professionals Foundation Scholarship (2023), Board of Certified Safety Professionals Scholarship (2023), Construction Advancement Program/Master Builders' Association of Western Pennsylvania Scholarship (2023), and the IUP American Society of Safety Professionals Student Section Educational Scholarship (2024). She was a member of a student research project studying steel mill workers and how they perceived safety culture and risk perception, and she presented this research on campus and at the Association for Iron & Steel Technology conference in Detroit. She helped to found the new American Industrial Hygiene Association student section club on campus and was president during the 2023 — 24 academic year. She was vice president of the student section of the American Society of Safety Professionals and was a member of the IUP Ladies of Safety club. As a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals, she helped to set up a food drive on campus to help donate items to those in need. She also helped set up a fundraiser for a local child with Surf-1 Leigh Syndrome Mitochondrial Disease. Kaitlyn Griffith, a biology major in the ecology, conservation, and evolutionary biology track from Johnstown. Daughter of Robert Griffith and Kelly and Mike Zemrose, she is a 2020 graduate of Richland High School. Sydney Sheredy, a safety, health, and environmental applied science major from Northern Cambria. Daughter of Raymond and Tonya Sheredy, she is a 2020 graduate of Northern Cambria High School. She was a board member of the IUP American Industrial Hygiene Association student chapter, was a member of the Ladies of Safety Club, was social events chair for the American Society of Safety Professionals student chapter, completed US Steel Employee Hazard Recognition and Safety culture research, and presented at the Western Pennsylvania American Society of Safety Professionals Conference. Jenna Stancombe, a public health major from Johnstown. Daughter of Richard and Allison Stancombe, she is a 2018 graduate of Ferndale Area High School. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Mountain Services Corps AmeriCorps, serving at the Cambria County Backpack Project. Kailee St. Pierre, a criminology major in the Cook Honors College from Ebensburg. Daughter of Jon and Debbie St. Pierre, she is a 2021 graduate of Central Cambria High School. She was a Top 11 Finalist and Evening Gown Preliminary Award Winner at the 2023 Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Competition; Sutton Scholarship and Cook Honors College Scholarship recipient. She was recognized for academic achievement while a student at Penn Highlands Community College and Washington and Jefferson College. She was a member of the Fashion Association and the Alpha Phi Sigma criminology honor society, was president of the IUP Criminology Association, and was an IUP Student Government Association Advocacy Senator and Constitution Review member. She was a member of the Board of University Organizations Recognition Committee and the University Senate Committee on Student Affairs.