STANDISH – Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the granddaughter of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt, advised the Saint Joseph’s Class of 2013 to “consider the part you wish to play in the world” at commencement Saturday.

“Your education through Saint Joseph’s College has not only prepared you for your chosen field, by design, it has prepared you for life,” she said. “It has prepared you to think – to discern among competing demands – so that you can make the world a better place.”

“If you live your life in the context of others; if you deliberately consider the part you wish to play in the world; if you have declared first what you stand for, then how you will live your life to support your values, you will have the context needed to create achievable, meaningful goals,” she said. “You will have a framework into which your work fits, in many different settings. Serendipity will be your friend; luck will be your companion.”

In all, Saint Joseph’s celebrated the achievements of 179 on-campus students and 337 students from the online division. The College conferred 12 associate, 297 baccalaureate and 208 graduate degrees. The graduates come from 43 states, the Philippines, Canada and South Korea.

In her closing remarks, Roosevelt echoed the voice of her grandfather, Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “My charge to you this morning is the same charge my grandfather put forth when he addressed the Class of 1932 at Oglethorpe University, in the grip of The Great Depression: ‘We need enthusiasm, imagination, and the ability to face facts, even unpleasant ones, bravely. … We need the courage of the young. Yours is not the task of making your way in the world, but the task of remaking the world, which you will find before you. May every one of us be granted the courage, the faith, and the vision to give the best that is in us to that remaking.’ “

Roosevelt, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. Jim Killoran ’80, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Westchester, N.Y., and Kevin McCarthy, president and CEO of Unum US and chief operating officer of Unum Group, each received an honorary Doctor of Public Service, as well.

Dr. James Dlugos presided over his first commencement exercises as president.

Saint Joseph’s College is Maine’s only Catholic liberal arts college.


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