Lock Haven University graduates facing changing world
By SCOTT JOHNSON — sjohnson@lockhaven.comArticle Photos
Dr. Gary Sojka, president emeritus at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, told the 336 graduates at Thomas Fieldhouse their degree from Lock Haven University will poise them to make a difference in the world.
This year, Lock Haven University had two commencement ceremonies at the main campus. A total of 311 students in The College of Education and Human Services graduated Friday night while those enrolled in The College of Arts and Science had their ceremonies Saturday morning.
Also, 55 students received their associates degrees Wednesday during ceremonies at the university’s Clearfield campus.
Sojka, who was president at Bucknell University from 1984 to 1995, praised the graduates for their time, toils and tears at the institution. He said those efforts will pay off in the future, with only a small percentage of the world’s 6.5 billion people having a formalized education at all, much less a college education and even less with a diploma from “an institution of this quality.”
However, Sojka said that education comes with a responsibility for the graduates to make the world a better place.
The former biology professor at Bucknell said the former students are entering a challenging world, which has become increasingly globalized through the years.
“What has gathered on the horizon for you, I believe, is this issue of globalization and its many, many complications,” Sojka said.
He noted there was a time not long ago that those born in America believed if they put in the time and effort, they would be paid off with a good job, a nice house and financial security. However, Sojka said, that thought has diminished with the increasing impact of other countries.
“Think about the rest of the world. Most people don’t get those expectations. Globalization gives them the opportunity to dream that,” he said. “I think that’s a good thing, but your guaranteed spot for prosperity just disappeared.
“These things are now going to go to those who produce, who can find a way, to those who not only deal with change but become agents of change,” said Sojka. “This is a place where intellectual property is going to become more valuable than physical property. It is a world based on information, based on intelligence and knowledge and those who truly prosper will take all those parts and put them together into something we call wisdom, a very rare commodity.”
Sojka, who accepted an appointment to the Pennsylvania Gaming Board last year, said humans have been able to adapt through our approximately 200,000 years on this planet, but increased populations and the price of fuel has caused a strain on the planet.
He said about 10,000 years ago, humans began to exert influence over Mother Nature and moved from being food procurers to become food producers.
“Our impact on the planet became severe,” Sojka said.
He said the world has been growing crops and animals where they produce the best, and then transport them around the world. That, Sojka said, caused two large problems.
First, farms became “monocrops,” leaving the world ripe for large outbreaks that kill nearly all of a species, like the Irish Potato Famine in the 1800s.
“When you put all your eggs in one basket, you are taking a huge risk,” Sojka said.
Secondly, he said, the increased price of fuel has caused transportation problems for these foods.
“You may have a lot of corn in Nebraska, but how are you going to get it to China?” Sojka asked. “You may have a lot of pork in China, but how are you going to get it to Thailand? We are beginning to see the wheel is falling off.
“The least elastic commodity known to man is food,” he continued. “You should be able to live without food. You sure as heck should be able to live without cell phones, but you won’t live a week without food,” he said. “You think we’re willing to turn the world on its head for oil, what do you think we’ll do when we wake up to the fact that this country, the one-time bread basket of the world, is already a net food importer?”
Sojka said the world has changed as well, in that most people will have at least three or four jobs in their lives, and Lock Haven University has prepared the graduating students to deal with that.
“You’re going to be struggling, hustling and trying to read the tea leaves at every turn,” he said. “I think that’s good because I think Lock Haven University has helped you understand where we were, how we got here, and that improves your chances in knowing where the world will go next. That will help you in not only being prepared for a change, but being a change agent.
“You have the capacity to make this world a better place. Not just for you, but for everyone.”
Sojka also told the graduates and their friends and family he was truly stunned at the beauty of Lock Haven University’s campus.
“I realized what a truly glorious place this is,” he said. “Pennsylvania is a much blessed state and this is a magic part of Pennsylvania... If I was to build a college campus and I was given the choice of where I would put it, I would put it right here.”
More than the beauty on the surface, however, Sojka, said he sensed the “supportive, engaged and engaging” community of Lock Haven.
Also speaking Saturday morning were Dr. Stephen Hicks, representing the university’s faculty and coaches union APSCUF, and SCC President William Dowd III.
Hicks told the graduates he believes the faculty at Lock Haven University prepared them to make the right choices when confronted with crossroads.
“I hope that you will make the best choice. That choice is not always the easiest choice,” he said.
Dowd remarked about the friendships the students formed during their years at the university, and encouraged his fellow graduates to “live life to the fullest.”
Dr. George and Shirley Durrwachter received honorary Doctors of Public Service degrees during ceremonies Friday night. The couple were the main contributors toward the recently-opened $10.4 million Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center on campus.
