Dean calls on class of 2006 to be leaders

With friends and family looking on from the stands of Franklin Field, the 2006 graduates of the Wharton school saw their college careers come to a close Sunday morning.

Patrick Harker, Dean of the Wharton School, led the commencement ceremony, which marked the 125th anniversary of the school's founding.

Harker told graduates that Joseph Wharton's vision was not to create investment bankers or managers, but to create leaders.

"We expect you, as Joseph Wharton did, to be leaders," he said.

Graduating senior Beth Mlynarczyk spoke on behalf of the senior class.

In her address to her classmates, Mlynarczyk discussed the many places and activities that students will remember after moving on from Penn.

However, she reminded graduates that they do not have to let go of the most important part of those memories.

"We don't have to let go of the people," Mlynarczyk said.

After various student and teaching awards were handed out, the graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas from Harker.

Students and family members alike were pleased with the proceedings.

Sendil Palani, a 2006 graduate, thought that the content and length of the ceremony were balanced well.

Officials "made an effort to make it meaningful but manageable," he said.

Palani also noted that "it was interesting to see everyone at once for the first time."

Greg Nichols, whose daughter graduated in the ceremony, particularly enjoyed Mlynarczyk's speech.

"The student representative speaker really did a terrific job," Nichols said.

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