Ukraine's Ambassador to U.S. Oksana Markarova addresses the graduates. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova urged members of the Boston College Class of 2023 to find their inner strength鈥攁s her country has done in its struggle against Russia鈥攖o fight for a just and fair world.
鈥淔reedom is not a given. Opportunities are not a given. Democracy is not a given,鈥� Markarova told the Alumni Stadium audience at Monday鈥檚 Commencement Exercises. 鈥淲e all have many battles to fight in, many obstacles to overcome, many challenges to see through. Where will we get the strength? In our responsibility to take action for what we love.
鈥淐hoose to do that, and in that moment, you will become truly extraordinary,鈥� said the ambassador, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of her 鈥渃ourageous and unwavering devotion鈥� to her country and its people.
Following the main Commencement event, the 4,405 members of the Class of 2023 received their undergraduate and graduate degrees at separate ceremonies held around campus.
L-R standing: Herb Scannell '79, Sister Jeanne McGowan '90, Jerry York '67; seated: Katrina Shaw M.S.W. '98, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., Ukraine Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova. (Lee Pellegrini)
In addition to Markarova, the University presented honorary degrees to: Sister of Saint Joseph Jeanne McGowan M.Ed. 鈥�90, president of La Salle Academy in Philadelphia;听Herb Scannell 鈥�79, a leader in broadcast media and diversity advocate; Katrina Shaw M.S.W. 鈥�98, a nonprofit leader and force for social justice in Boston and beyond; and retired BC men鈥檚 hockey coach Jerry York 鈥�67, one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history. Read the honorary degree citations.
Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences student听Huel (Trey) Cox III was honored as this year's recipient of the Edward H. Finnegan, S.J., Award, presented to the graduating senior who best exemplifies the University鈥檚 motto, 鈥淓ver to Excel.鈥� Mary Walsh, the听Daniel E. Kearns Professor in Urban Education and Innovative Leadership at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, received the Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J., Award, which recognizes a distinguished faculty member whose contributions have significantly advanced the mission of Boston College.
In his greeting, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., noted that Commencement is not only an occasion to offer appreciation鈥攖o parents, spouses, families, friends, faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors, and others who contribute to students鈥� BC experiences鈥攂ut to consider our response to compelling issues and events, as individuals and as members of a global community.
鈥淭oday we are especially mindful of the war in Ukraine, the thousands of soldiers and civilians on both sides killed in it, and the devastation it has caused for millions of people,鈥� he said.
“Freedom is not a given. Opportunities are not a given. Democracy is not a given. We all have many battles to fight in, many obstacles to overcome, many challenges to see through. Where will we get the strength? In our responsibility to take action for what we love. ”
BC President William P. Leahy, S.J., presents Huel (Trey) Cox III of the Morrissey College of Arts and Science with the Edward H. Finnegan, S.J., Award, as Board of Trustees chair John Fish looks on. (Lee Pellegrini)
Markarova pointed out that Monday marked the 452nd day of Russia鈥檚 invasion of her country, which 鈥渕any experts across the globe鈥� had predicted would fall in three days. She touched on recent developments鈥攊ncluding the liberation of Kherson and other towns in southern Ukraine and a 鈥渉eroic stand鈥� against Russian forces in the town of Bakhmut鈥攁s indicative of her country鈥檚 steadfastness: 鈥淯kraine is still standing. We鈥檙e still fighting.鈥�
The question she hears every day, said Markarova, is 鈥渨hat gives us strength?鈥濃�攖he title of a poem written more than a century ago by Ukrainian poet Lesia Ukrainka at a time when publishing in the Ukrainian language was punishable by prison. Ukrainka鈥檚 poem recounts the story of a poor carpenter in Jerusalem hired to construct crosses for the crucifixion of three criminals, she said. After doing the job, the carpenter laments his lot in life, until he sees the three prisoners trying to carry the heavy crosses to the place of their execution. The carpenter comes to the aid of one, saying 鈥淚 made this cross so heavy,鈥� he says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 my job to carry it.鈥�
She continued, 鈥淗e straightens his spine, his arms find their old strength, and his eyes burn with determination as the carpenter bears Jesus鈥� cross to Golgotha.鈥�
What gave the carpenter such strength, said Markarova, and what is the relevance to Ukraine today? She singled out three sources of strength for her and her people, the first of which is responsibility. Ukraine鈥檚 hard-won democracy 鈥渨as, like that poorly crafted cross, still unwieldy, and rough in places. But it was ours. We could not bear losing it. Just like the carpenter in the story rose up to take the responsibility for his craft, we rose to stand against the threat to our democracy.鈥�
Kearns Professor Mary Walsh receives the Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J., Award. (Caitlin Cunningham)
Another exponent of strength is taking action, Markarova said: Once the carpenter took action, he changed from victim to hero. Similarly, she said, in the first day of the Russian invasion, thousands of men flocked to military recruitment offices. Citizens began collecting donations and procuring military equipment for the army, while caring for those who had fled their cities and villages. Businesses relocated to safer areas. Software programmers wrote code in bomb shelters. Teachers taught students in subway stations and food courts.
鈥淭hat moment when you decide to act is when you stop being an ordinary person and become truly extraordinary,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou excel!鈥�
Love, continued Markarova, is the third source of strength (not as in 鈥渉earts and flowers,鈥� she added, 鈥渁lthough as a happily married woman I can tell you it helps, too鈥�). She cited many instances of love in this time of war: People sharing food and water with neighbors while sheltering together, or caring for others. Countries that took in Ukrainian refugees. Those who supported aid for the wounded鈥攑sychologically as well as physically.
鈥淭his is how we become strong. By being there for other people, so that they are there for us when we need it. By showing love, giving love, by simply loving. Loving our family, loving our country, loving each other.鈥�
Sean Smith | University Communications | May 2023
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