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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 艾可直播 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 艾可直播member whose contributions have significantly advanced the mission of 艾可直播 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.

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�