Two commencements in May

U.S. Rep. AARON SCHOCK ’02 addressed undergraduates, family, and friends on May 16 at the Peoria Civic Center Arena

Caterpillar chief technology officer TANA ALLEN UTLEY ’86, at left, encouraged master’s degree recipients to commit to lifelong learning
Photography by Duane Zehr

Two distinguished Bradley alumni were keynote speakers at May 2009 commencement exercises. U.S. Rep. AARON SCHOCK ’02 addressed undergraduates, family, and friends on May 16 at the Peoria Civic Center Arena.

“There are times when we have important decisions to make, and the only thing that stands between us and a great opportunity is the fear of failure. And the big thing I’ve learned is never to let fear make your decisions for you,” the freshman Congressman advised.

Bradley president Joanne Glasser (pictured with Schock) also spoke at the ceremony. PAUL FRIENER ’09 delivered the student commentary.

Speaking at the graduate commencement ceremony at the Markin Center on May 14, Caterpillar chief technology officer TANA ALLEN UTLEY ’86, at left, encouraged master’s degree recipients to commit to lifelong learning. “Strive to be an expert in your field — you’re never quite there — but do that with the thirst and the humility of a novice,” she said.

Officially, 845 bachelor’s degrees and 149 graduate degrees were awarded in May.

Visit Web Extras for slideshows of both ceremonies.

Redefining retirement

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute logo JEFF NELSON, MA ’86 and his wife Mary Ann want to retire to something, not from something. As a result, the 61-year-olds’ retirement focus is on rediscovering their lives, not just recalculating their finances.

This focus on rediscovery is the subject of a new program on September 19. Redefining Retirement, a one-day workshop offered by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Bradley University, is designed to help people prepare for the lifestyle, financial, and health changes that come with retirement.

Like their contemporaries, the Nelsons are revising the rules of retirement and aging by designing a comprehensive post-career life that accounts for who they are today: staying healthy, being active, continuing to contribute, and sustaining financial comfort.

“I’m a strong believer that knowledge enriches the decisions we make,” said Nelson. “This workshop is a perfect opportunity to help make some important decisions in a creative and interactive environment, with experts who know what it takes to transition into retirement.”

For more information on Redefining Retirement, visit bradley.edu/continue/olli, or contact Michelle Riggio, program director for Bradley’s Continuing Education Division, at 309-677-3900 or mriggio@bradley.edu.

Winner for 2009

An online classified marketplace — where students looking to buy, sell, or exchange books, furniture, and other items are connected with each other — was the winner of the third annual Project Springboard business plan competition in April.

Consisting of TATENDA FURUSA ’10, TYLER FRYER ’10, T.J. NEUMAN ’10, COLLIN SCHAEFER ’09, and MBA student HELENA RACICKA, the group won a $10,000 cash prize, $15,000 in seed capital, and one year of “knowledge capital” valued at more than $120,000. Initially known as U-Exchange, their project was selected from 23 business plans.

Placing second, EyeOnLife aims to put touch screens on tables in sit-down restaurants. The three junior entrepreneurship majors who created the EyeMenu received $7,500. They are NATALIE BETSCHER ’10, TYLER FRYER ’10, and TRACY BLASIAK ’10.

The third-place finisher, Paws Giving Independence, is featured in Campus View. The group’s three founders received $5,000 for their project.

Visit springboard.bradley.edu for more information.

Two commencements in May

Redefining retirement

Winner for 2009

Promising enrollment and high graduation rates for BU