NEWPORT — When Diana McKenna walked across the stage to receive her degree at Salve Regina University on Sunday, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for the mother of five who overcame many challenges on her journey to success.
Click here for more photos.The 41 year-old Middletown resident and parishioner of Jesus Saviour Parish, Newport, set out five and-a-half years ago to earn a degree in psychology and to serve as an inspiration to her children. Employed part-time as a van driver on campus and often working until 1 a.m., the active woman thought she knew everything about overcoming obstacles and juggling schedules.
At the start of her senior year, McKenna was diagnosed with breast cancer, and soon after her mother, Theresa Rodrigues, a longtime member of the university housekeeping staff, died.
Forced to drop her classes and stop working, McKenna underwent surgery and exhaustive chemotherapy treatments, but never lost sight of her goal to earn a college degree.
“I consider myself blessed that I found my cancer early,” McKenna said, noting that she developed cancer for a reason, and that through her illness, God is leading her to help others and to pursue a career in human services.
The proud graduate said that she couldn’t have accomplished her goal without the unfailing support of her husband Ray, a safety and security officer at the university, who kept things running smoothly while his wife conducted extensive research, wrote papers and prepared for exams.
“At times it was very challenging,” McKenna recalled. “A’s don’t come easily to me.”
The new Salve alumnae also credited Father Michael Malone, a member of the psychology department staff and her faculty advisor, for his dedication and support.
“He was a great mentor,” she continued. “He was so encouraging.”
McKenna was one of 671 graduates who received degrees during Salve Regina’s 62nd commencement held on the oceanside lawn of McAuley Hall. President Mercy Sister Jane Gerety conferred doctoral, masters, and baccalaureate degrees, and presented certificates of advanced graduate studies in humanities, expressive arts, mental health and holistic leadership.
Howard G. Sutton, publisher, president and chief executive officer of The Providence Journal, received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree and served as the commencement speaker.
Noting that the day marked the 40th anniversary of his own college commencement at the University of Notre Dame, Sutton, a Portsmouth resident, told the graduates that “40 years have flown by. So today’s advice is to slow down.”
“Like most technological innovations, our telecommunications revolution has brought much good, but some bad, too,” Sutton observed. He said that while it’s good to have so much information readily available, unfortunately much is wrong or misleading.
“The thing that concerns me here is that our plugged-in world creates 24/7 distractions that keep us from appreciating life as it goes along,” he told the graduates. … “Life, after all, is but a series of moments. If our hyperactivity prevents us from enjoying life as it goes by, then it is running us, and not us it, and reducing our store of happy memories. And we are our memories.”
Sutton urged the graduates to follow Thoreau’s advice and to simplify their lives.
“These days such simplification must include clearing your mind from time to time by turning off your devices and moving into the slow lane.”
Sister Gerety, quoting Robert Frost’s immortal poem, “Stopping By Woods on A Snowy Evening,” told the graduates that they, too, have promises to keep – many to total strangers - as they use the core values, knowledge and skills they acquired at Salve Regina to improve society and benefit mankind.
“A loving God will keep his promises to you,” Sister Gerety told the graduates. “God takes delight in every one of you.”
Jennifer Sliney, a native of Belmont, Mass., said that she was greatly influenced by the Mercy charism and mission to serve others.
“Salve Regina is all about helping people,” said Sliney, who pursued an interdisciplinary program in sociology and environmental studies. “I want to dedicate my life to trying to fix the environment.”
