UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 16, Page 1
January 9, 1992
Winter grads- Alumni total increases

     Paula L. Gavin summed up her message with three words: "Gift,
balance and success."
     Gavin, who spoke at the Winter Commencement on Saturday, Jan.
4, told some 500 students receiving degrees and approximately 4,000
guests that she was humbled to be their speaker, in part because
"no less than 20 people have told me that they do not remember one
word from their commencement address." So she challenged her
audience to remember those three words from her talk.
     "It is the gift of self-esteem combined with a balance into
your life which will indeed lead you to success," she told the
crowd in the Delaware Field House.
     Gavin, a 1967 graduate of the University, is now president of
the YMCA of Greater New York, which is the largest in a worldwide
network of YMCAs.
     "Each of you came to the University of Delaware with gifts-
your experiences in previous schooling, your talents and your
enthusiasm. I am certain that the University of Delaware has given
you additional gifts. It has given you the gift of new knowledge,
it has given you the gift of good friends, it has given you a gift
of a career path. For me, the University of Delaware gave me a gift
of independence, leadership skills and a capacity for
self-discovery."
     At the University, academic activities taught her how to
learn, extracurricular activities taught her how to manage her time
and to lead and the faculty and staff taught her the values of
integrity and hard work, she said.
     "And my friends taught me the importance of loyalty and love.
It is a great joy in my life that there are eight University of
Delaware graduates who are my friends today-24 years later....But
what is the best thing of all is they're still the friends that I
have learned from and grown from over 24 years.
     "All of this is my way of saying thanks to the University of
Delaware, an exceptional University with exceptional people. It is
truly a special learning and life experience and I hope the
graduates will always feel that same feeling," Gavin said.
     "But maybe most important the University of Delaware has added
to the most important gift that you possess, you the graduates. It
has added to your self-esteem. It has added to believing in
yourself. That is indeed the greatest gift of life."
     Gavin told the graduates of the importance of balancing work
and family and stressed the value of community service. "So, as you
enter this next stage of life, I know career looms very big, and it
should, but please remember that it is the balance in your life-the
balance of your mind, body, spirit and the balance of your work,
career and family-that will enable you to really succeed....
     "I want to wish you hope, joy and faith every day as you move
toward success, and I want to say that you are special today and
you'll be special every day for the rest of your life," Gavin said.
"Thank you and congratulations. This was a great honor."
     University President David Roselle opened the ceremony by
congratulating the graduates. "It was the work of the University to
prepare you for success and for your futures and in a certain sense
today marks that our work is done," he said.
     "Today, you stand successful and ready for that future, for
the beginning of those lives and careers for which you have been
planning and have been working. Today, you show yourselves at your
best and you also show the University at its best," Roselle said.
"and in recognition of that, this institution, this University of
Delaware, links its name irrevocably with yours by the awarding of
your degrees."
     After diploma cases were presented to the graduates, Steven
Bonine, vice president of the University of Delaware Alumni
Association, officially welcomed the University's newest alumni and
gave them one piece of advice: "Now get out there and celebrate!"
     At the ceremony, Krisula Gosdis Moyer, a member of the Class
of 1992, led the singing of the national anthem and the alma mater,
and the Delaware Brass Quintet played.