Showered with blue and gold balloons, 天天吃瓜鈥檚 newest class of graduates celebrated Commencement on Dec. 14 at UIC Pavilion.
鈥淎s you leave 天天吃瓜, know that we are optimistic in the future because we have confidence in you,鈥 President Sharon Hahs said. 鈥淲e are proud of you.鈥
More than 600 graduates participated in the ceremony.
The Commencement address was delivered by Northeastern alumnus , president and CEO of The Pollakov Financial Group Inc., one of the premier financial services organizations in California.
Pollakov, whose father died when he was only 5 years old, said that his story of business success and philanthropy should serve as an example for Northeastern鈥檚 graduates.
鈥淵ou want to meet the president of the United States? I鈥檓 here telling you that you can be the president of the United States,鈥 said Pollakov, who graduated from Northeastern in 1970 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Elementary Education: Physical Education. 鈥淭oday is one of the great days of your life. This day is yours. Cherish it and never forget it.鈥
Pollakov described an aimless childhood during which school advisers would tell his classmates to stay away from him.
鈥淗ow did I go from someone who had no plans, had no dreams, had no successes, certainly had no support team to an achiever?鈥 he said. 鈥淢y journey toward success, I didn鈥檛 understand it until I started preparing for this talk. My journey toward success started later in life, and it started at Northeastern.鈥
Near the end of high school, Pollakov said he finally began to apply himself in class and earned a tennis scholarship from Northeastern. He eventually received a letter from former Northeastern President Jerome Sachs congratulating him on making the honors list.
鈥淚t was a turning point of my life,鈥 he said, raising the letter for the audience to see. 鈥淔orty-five years later, I still hold the same letter because it proved to me that I can do it.鈥
The lesson, Pollakov said, was clear, and it still applies to today鈥檚 graduates.
鈥淭he road to success doesn鈥檛 start once your opportunity arrives,鈥 he said. 鈥淵our opportunity arrives once you鈥檝e positioned yourself for that success. Succeeding is a habit.鈥
Also at the Commencement ceremony:
- Northeastern presented Communication, Media and Theatre professor Cynthia Moran with the . 鈥淧rofessor Moran is an advocate for professional development and an inspiration to our students,鈥 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Richard Helldobler said.
- Northeastern honored professors emeriti Veronica Curtis-Palmer, Christina Georgakis, Joyce Jennings and Jane Weintraub. 鈥淲e commend our honorees for their meritorious service,鈥 Helldobler said.
- Vice President for Institutional Advancement Melba Rodriguez presented the class gift of more than $3,000 to the NEIU Foundation.
