WTNH-TV anchor urges arts and sciences, and communications graduates to grow from adversity

Quinnipiac conferred degrees to 376 graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and 312 graduates from the School of Communications

May 14, 2023

Dennis House, WTNH News 8 evening news and chief political anchor, delivered an emotional address at Sunday morning’s Commencement exercises for the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Communications, urging the graduates to face professional and personal adversity head-on and “promise yourself you will come back stronger.”

Dennis House wears commencement robes and speaks at the Quinnipiac lecturn

Dennis House, Chief Political Anchor, Evening News Anchor, WTNH-TV News 8, delivered the keynote address.

The award-winning broadcaster, a fixture on evening newscasts in Connecticut for three decades, echoed his best friend and former co-anchor at WFSB-TV, the late Denise D’Ascenzo, who 10 years earlier gave a Commencement address at Quinnipiac.

“Be open, be brave and be kind,” House said, quoting directly from D’Ascenzo’s speech.

House fought back tears as he reflected on the most trying year of his life, which began in December 2019 with the sudden death of D’Ascenzo. Soon after, he lost his job at WFSB-TV and then his father to a long illness, leading him to reassess his life and start plotting a comeback. The determination with which he navigated this difficult inflection point mirrored his struggle to break into the news business as a shy college graduate who had fought tirelessly to overcome a stutter.

“I made a tape and got rejection after rejection after rejection,” said House, who was introduced by Associate Professor of Journalism Richard Hanley. “I still have a looseleaf binder with those rejection letters, over 100 of them. My advice to you is to be determined. When someone says they won’t hire you, ask why not? Learn from rejection and learn from brutal honesty.”

Enamored from a young age by broadcast journalists and a self-described “voracious” reader and watcher of the news, House said he views his on-air role as a form of service to the viewer. He opened his speech by joking about how “terrified” he was whenever he had to pronounce the word “Quinnipiac” on television. A veteran of World Series and Final Four coverage, House’s pronunciation was emphatic as he congratulated the university on its recent victory in the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey championship.

President Judy Olian began her address with a Mother’s Day greeting for the mothers and grandmothers in attendance. She lauded the graduates for exhibiting “real grace and courage” in the remote learning environment and applying their skills in some high-profile places once the world reopened. She noted that a cohort of student journalists was “in full force” in Bridgeport and Tampa, Florida, chronicling the march to a national championship from a unique perspective of pride and passion.

Olian cautioned the graduates about the various “judgment calls” and “ethical choices we’ve explored with you as part of your training” that await them in their professional lives. She urged them to let the university’s mission statement be a guidepost.

“Sometimes there aren’t any clear answers, but you have to labor to find them,” she said. “I trust you are coming out of your years as a Bobcat as graduates who are, and I quote from our mission statement, ‘enlightened global citizens equipped for the careers of the future.’”

In closing, Olian told the graduates that they’d always have a home in Hamden, as well as an unbreakable bond with the wide-reaching network of Bobcats alumni.

Jamie Manley cheers with her hand in the air while she stands behind the Quinnipiac podium — Jamie Nicole Manley, MA '23, welcomed the Class of 2023.

“All of us at Quinnipiac will follow your path with great interest,” she said. “We will unabashedly boast of your successes, hang onto your coattails and, of course, we will beam with pride at the impact you’re having in your chosen fields and in the life you lead.”

After Emily Kane ’23 sang the national anthem, Jamie Manley ’22, MA ’23, delivered the welcome address for the Class of 2023.

“Spoiler alert: I think we are going to keep experiencing new Quinnipiac beginnings long after we walk off this quad today,” said Manley, who received her master’s in cinematic production management. She expressed her excitement about her new beginning — a production assignment at the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival in France.

The student response was given by Giavanna Ragon ’23, a Spanish and sociology double major who reflected on the difficulties she faced early in her academic journey before transferring to Quinnipiac. In another nod to the university’s thrilling victory in the Frozen Four, she likened the challenges all of the graduates encountered to being “in overtime” for the last four years.

Giavanna Ragon speaks into a microphone on a Quinnipiac podium

Giavanna Carmela Ragon, BA '23, delivered the response of the Class of 2023.

“This school made me realize that those difficult times were just part of my life training for the bigger picture,” said Ragon. “Here, I met lifelong friends, made amazing relationships with my professors, had endless opportunities and, little did I know, we’d become national champions. This school taught me that even if we continue to get knocked down by the opponent, we get up and keep playing with even more confidence than before.”

Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett served as the master of ceremonies. The candidates were presented by College of Arts and Sciences Dean Adam Roth and School of Communications Dean Chris Roush.

Pamela Martinez ’86, a board member of the Alumni Association, welcomed the graduates into the community of Bobcats alumni.

Photo Gallery

Graduate smiling happily while looking back and the background is Arnold Bernhard library

Two graduates exclaim and hug in front of the library

A graduate gives a thumbs up among dozens of other graduates

A graduate cheers while wearing shiny, reflective sunglasses as he sits

Graduates smile, wave and toss caps into the air in front of a blue sky

A graduate smiles and waves as she walks back to her chair

A graduate pumps his fist in celebration and cheers

graduates smiling while they move their tassels from the right to the left

female graduate raises her diploma and cheers

graduate smiles and waves at the camera while processing out

two graduates pose together and grin broadly

row of male graduates cheer and point out to the audience

female graduate looks at the camera and laughs while sitting in her row

graduate smiles and points at something off camera

graduate looks over her shoulder and smiles

graduate raises her diploma above her head and cheers

graduate turns and smiles at the camera over her shoulder

Several graduates walk across the quad with Sleeping Giant State Park in the background

line of graduates smile at the camera and their families crowded around

Zoomed in shot of graduate happily grinning

Graduate smiling waiting to line up for graduation ceremony

Two graduates from the School of Communications pose on the Quadrangle

Graduates hold their diplomas and smile happily

Graduate signals peace sign looking at camera while in line

Two graduates from the School of Communications pose for a selfie

Graduates pose for a selfie while holding their iced coffees while lining up for procession

School of Communications graduates line up before processional

Graduate turns around to camera whilst walking in the processional in front of Arnold Bernhard Library

Graduates embrace and smile in front of the graduation set up on the Quadrangle

A graduate holds her diploma and smiles on the library steps

A graduate wearing a softball stole shakes hands with the dean

Two graduates big each other a big hug during the ceremony

A graduate holds up her diploma cover and smiles

President Olian poses for a photo with graduate Mel Careri

A graduate tilts her head and smiles in a sea of graduates

Graduates sit in a row and smile during the Commencement ceremony

A graduate wears sunglasses and smiles broadly as she walks down the library steps with her diploma

3 Graduates pose on the Quadrangle in caps and gowns

Graduate smiles and waves at crowd while processing in

National anthem is sung by a graduate on stage — Emily Kane '23 performed the National Anthem.

group of graduates wave to their friends and families off camera

Graduate happily throwing caps in the air along with confetti falling to the ground

three female graduates lean out of their line and smile towards the camera

two graduates fist bump in front of the arnold bernhard library in their caps and gown

graduate gives the camera a thumbs up during the graduation ceremony

two male graduates reach out to each other in their processional line

graduate looks off over the audience with her new diploma

chief experience officer tom ellett speaks at the podium

graduates walk down the center aisle, one holding her cap in the wind

two faculty members pose together looking off to the side and smiling

graduates smile widely as the notice the camera pointed at their line

Graduates cheerfully standing, clapping and smiling

Graduate standing up and clapping during commencement

Graduates stand and clap after commencement ceremony for their success

Graduate holds her diploma and is cheerfully screaming in excitement

Graduate holds diploma excited and cheering

Graduate throws arms in the air while grinning

Graduate smiles looking back at audience

Two graduates holding diploma and walking in a line

Graduate astonished holding diploma and smiles

Graduate smiles with diploma walking down quad

Graduate points proudly walking alongside other graduates happily

Graduates smile while holding diplomas in a line

Students embrace in front of School of Communications — Watch the recording of the **College of Arts and Sciences and School of Communications Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement**.

Program

Sunday, May 14, 10 a.m.

Download the program (PDF)

Order of Exercises

College of Arts & Sciences
School of Communications

10 a.m.

Trumpet Prelude and Processional

Pomp and Circumstance, Sir Edward Elgar

Call to Commencement

Tom Ellett, PhD
Chief Experience Officer

National Anthem

Emily Kane, BA ’23

Greetings

Judy D. Olian, PhD
President

Welcome from the Class of 2023

Jamie Nicole Manley, MA ’23

Response of the Class of 2023

Giavanna Carmela Ragon, BA ’23

Introduction of Commencement Speaker

Richard Hanley
Associate Professor of Journalism

Commencement Address

Dennis House
Chief Political Anchor, Evening News Anchor, WTNH-TV News 8

Presentation of Candidates for Degrees and Awards

College of Arts and Sciences: Adam Roth, PhD, Dean
School of Communications: Chris Roush, MS, Dean

Conferral of Degrees

Judy D. Olian

Alumni Welcome

Pamela Martinez ’86
Board Member, Alumni Association

Recessional

Amor Vittorioso | G. Gastoldi
March | A. Valenti

Dennis House

School of Communications and College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate and Graduate Ceremony | Sunday, May 14, 10 a.m.

WTNH evening news anchor Dennis House has been a friendly face on television screens in Connecticut for over three decades. Across his award-winning career as an anchor and political reporter, House has interviewed U.S. Presidents, moderated political debates, emceed countless charity events and reported live news hits from presidential inaugurations, the World Series and the Final Four. He’s been a steadying presence for Connecticut viewers during tragedies and natural disasters. Prior to his time at WTNH, he spent more than 20 years broadcasting the evening news at WFSB alongside his friend and longtime co-anchor, the late Denise D’Ascenzo. House received his bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from Assumption College before he got his start in broadcast journalism at WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island. Originally from Norwood, Massachusetts, he now lives in Hartford with his wife, Kara Sundlun, a fellow TV news anchor, and their children, Helena and Julian.

Story, Photos and Ceremony Recording

A Message from the President

Congratulations to the Class of 2023! You are well prepared to continue your life journey as professionals who will impact the world and the workplaces of tomorrow. We are confident you will apply your talent, passion and education to serve boldly as engaged citizens in your communities — and beyond. These qualities are at your core and will continue to propel you well into the future.

As graduates of Quinnipiac University, you have learned from a distinguished faculty and a committed staff who proudly stand beside you today. You also have learned valuable lessons from each other during this most transformative time in your lives. Please stay connected to our Bobcat family, visit us often, and draw upon the many friendships and mentorships you have formed here.

This day is shared with your families and friends, those who also deserve special recognition and appreciation for their contributions to your success. Enjoy this momentous achievement! Together, we are cheering for you, with utmost pride.

Warmly
Judy D. Olian

Mace and Medallion

The mace — a symbol of authority — has antecedents in both Roman and Medieval history. The Roman mace (fasces) was carried by a lictor before the chief magistrate of the city, as well as before the legions. During the Middle Ages, the mace (mateola), a weapon of war, became first a symbol of victory and then a symbol of authority. The mace emblazoned with the Great Seal of England became a symbol of authority in Parliament by the end of the 13th century. It is this form of the mace that was the prototype of those symbols of authority, not only of legislative bodies, but also of cities and universities.

In 1246, following some 20 years of strife, the University of Paris was finally conceded the right to its own common seal. Since then, the use of the seal engraved on the mace has come to symbolize the authority of the academic community. In July 2000, Quinnipiac commissioned the noted sculptor Robert Meyer of Westport, Connecticut, to design and execute a new mace for Quinnipiac University. Cast in bronze, the mace incorporates elements of the university seal.

The medallion (medal of office), like the mace and the seal, is also a symbol of authority. It is possible that its roots may be traced back to the Roman “bulla” (a gold amulet of honor). The obverse of the medallion shows the seal of the office the wearer holds — in our case, the seal of the university. Not infrequently, the reverse would show the personal seal or coat of arms of the bearer. Since the High Middle Ages, the medallion has been worn by such officials as the chancellors of England, mayors of cities, and rectors of universities, and came to signify the high personal position such figures occupied in their respective governments. During the Renaissance, medallion design reached unique artistic heights, and in certain portraits the medallion was given particular prominence. The medallion is worn by the university’s president. The Quinnipiac medal showcases the university seal, sculpted in relief and cast in bronze.

Download the program (PDF)

Quinnipiac University conferred 3,141 degrees during six Commencement ceremonies May 12-14 at the M&T Bank Arena and the Mount Carmel Campus.

Get all the details at commencement.qu.edu