Temple University, yet another batch of happy graduates
“This is the beginning of what I hope is a long road for me, I’m just happy to make my family is proud.”, said aspiring doctor Jason Becker. He is the first person in his family to graduate college. The modest 21 year-old managed to complete his degree in biology one semester early and with cum laude honors. Becker, along with two hundred and fifteen other students participated in the diploma ceremony for the College of Science and Technology held today. Unlike their spring commencement ceremony, held in the huge Liacouras Center, this was an intimate affair.
Hai Lung Dai, the new Dean of the College of Science and Technology led the afternoon ceremony held in MittonHall. He promptly introduced the guest speaker, Professor Franklin A. Davis. Davis is a renowned chemist who has been honored by the American Chemical Society’s Cope Scholar Award; Drexel University’s Research Achievement Award and is the author of more than 250 publications.
This, like most graduation ceremonies was filled with speakers and speeches. Davis offered honest advice to the class of 2007 and conveyed a message of passion and perseverance. “If you don’t know what to do, don’t worry about it; move on and find something you love to do.”
Zach Reichenbach, the student speaker contributed wise words to his fellow classmates, “Contrary to what your student loans say, you are wealthy.” Reichenbach emphasized how wealthy he and his classmates feel after having undergone the Temple experience. “Knowledge is the only true from of wealth” he said, eloquently.
But knowledge may not be the only reason Temple students are feeling wealthy. Temple, the Philadelphia area’s only public institution is one of the highest ranking universities in the nation. As of 2006, Temple’s in-state tuition is 9,680, compared to Penn State’s over 11 thousand per year. Temple also prides itself in providing 64% of their students with financial aid, bringing the nine-thousand-dollar price tag, to an even lower cost for most.
According to US News and World Report Temple University has been improving each year for nearly the past decade. Here are the current ranks. Temple is number 4 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the country, but number one in the region. Temple was also ranked number 10 in international business.
The cost may be affordable, but that’s not the reason thousands come from all over the country to study at the North Philadelphia campus. One of the reasons may be their extensive curriculum and vast majors. Temple offers 133 master’s degree and 62 doctorial programs.
And if North Philadelphia doesn’t sound like an appealing place to spend four years, Temple provides the option of traveling to one of their international campuses. They are scattered through the dynamic global metropoli of Tokyo and Rome.
“The time I spent in Rome was probably the best part of my college experience; I absorbed the art and experienced the culture. Best of all I got the opportunity to live there for over a month, something I may never get the chance to do again!”, said Carlos Fernandez who graduated from Tyler, Temple’s school of art, in 2006.
Carlos considers himself a prime example of what makes the Temple education great.
“Temple allowed me to do exactly what I wanted to do: I stayed in my home town, paid close to nothing and got a great education in what I love to do. Carlos discovered his love for glassblowing while at Tyler and is now pursuing a career in the arts.
Many students admit they were initially hesitant to attending Temple and living on-campus due to the local reputation of the neighborhood. “North Philadelphia was not on my top ten places to live, but I can honestly say, after living here for four years I never felt threatened.”, said Becker. The reason for this may be Temple’s ultra- heightened security. Temple’s police force, the second largest in Philadelphia describes itself as “much more than a police department” and is led by former Philadelphia Police inspector and 26 year veteran, Carl S. Bittenbender.
“That’s one of the good things about Temple; it’s a big school, with a small school feel” said Becker. According to the Princeton Review, that’s not the only good thing about Philadelphia’s public university. Temple, like most other large institutions also has satellite campuses that offer most of the core curriculum.
Temple’s students are encouraged to take liberal arts classes and attain a well-rounded education. The university offers an immense variety of liberal arts courses many of which pertain to a specific, but locally relevant aspect or facet of society. Some topics included are “History of Blacks in Pennsylvania”, “Men and Masculinity”, “People and Places of Philadelphia”, “Hispanic Dialectology”.
In addition to their requirements per major, every student at Temple is required to enroll in what they call a “race” course. These courses include “The Asian American Experience”, “Ebonics: African American Languages”, “Puerto Rican Literature”.
Temple’s curriculum and requirements are perhaps a reflection of their population
Just last year, Temple was named “Best in the Northeast” for its “Diverse Student Population”.
When asked what they thought of their somewhat non-traditional curriculum, most students agreed with Fernandez when he said, “In the beginning I didn’t think they were necessary, after growing up in the city, I thought I knew a lot about diversity, but in all honesty I think they enriched what I knew, and really prepared a lot of people that suffered a pretty big culture shock when they moved from their small towns, to this very, very urban setting.”
“It really teaches you to be tolerant”, added Becker.
The voices of those who graduated today weren’t just happy, they were satisfied. “Temple is definitely the most underrated school in the area. When I say I go to Temple around here, its no big deal, but you would be surprised, once you cross a few state lines, the tone changes a little.” Becker insisted proudly.
“Keep an open mind, don’t believe everything you see or hear.” That was the message Professor Davis left the graduating class of winter 2007 today. The message stands far from commencement ceremony cliches, but nothing less would be expected from a Temple University professor.
“This is the beginning of what I hope is a long road for me, I’m just happy to make my family is proud.”, said aspiring doctor Jason Becker. He is the first person in his family to graduate college. The modest 21 year-old managed to complete his degree in biology one semester early and with cum laude honors. Becker, along with two hundred and fifteen other students participated in the diploma ceremony for the College of Science and Technology held today. Unlike their spring commencement ceremony, held in the huge Liacouras Center, this was an intimate affair.
Hai Lung Dai, the new Dean of the College of Science and Technology led the afternoon ceremony held in MittonHall. He promptly introduced the guest speaker, Professor Franklin A. Davis. Davis is a renowned chemist who has been honored by the American Chemical Society’s Cope Scholar Award; Drexel University’s Research Achievement Award and is the author of more than 250 publications.
This, like most graduation ceremonies was filled with speakers and speeches. Davis offered honest advice to the class of 2007 and conveyed a message of passion and perseverance. “If you don’t know what to do, don’t worry about it; move on and find something you love to do.”
Zach Reichenbach, the student speaker contributed wise words to his fellow classmates, “Contrary to what your student loans say, you are wealthy.” Reichenbach emphasized how wealthy he and his classmates feel after having undergone the Temple experience. “Knowledge is the only true from of wealth” he said, eloquently.
But knowledge may not be the only reason Temple students are feeling wealthy. Temple, the Philadelphia area’s only public institution is one of the highest ranking universities in the nation. As of 2006, Temple’s in-state tuition is 9,680, compared to Penn State’s over 11 thousand per year. Temple also prides itself in providing 64% of their students with financial aid, bringing the nine-thousand-dollar price tag, to an even lower cost for most.
According to US News and World Report Temple University has been improving each year for nearly the past decade. Here are the current ranks. Temple is number 4 for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the country, but number one in the region. Temple was also ranked number 10 in international business.
The cost may be affordable, but that’s not the reason thousands come from all over the country to study at the North Philadelphia campus. One of the reasons may be their extensive curriculum and vast majors. Temple offers 133 master’s degree and 62 doctorial programs.
And if North Philadelphia doesn’t sound like an appealing place to spend four years, Temple provides the option of traveling to one of their international campuses. They are scattered through the dynamic global metropoli of Tokyo and Rome.
“The time I spent in Rome was probably the best part of my college experience; I absorbed the art and experienced the culture. Best of all I got the opportunity to live there for over a month, something I may never get the chance to do again!”, said Carlos Fernandez who graduated from Tyler, Temple’s school of art, in 2006.
Carlos considers himself a prime example of what makes the Temple education great.
“Temple allowed me to do exactly what I wanted to do: I stayed in my home town, paid close to nothing and got a great education in what I love to do. Carlos discovered his love for glassblowing while at Tyler and is now pursuing a career in the arts.
Many students admit they were initially hesitant to attending Temple and living on-campus due to the local reputation of the neighborhood. “North Philadelphia was not on my top ten places to live, but I can honestly say, after living here for four years I never felt threatened.”, said Becker. The reason for this may be Temple’s ultra- heightened security. Temple’s police force, the second largest in Philadelphia describes itself as “much more than a police department” and is led by former Philadelphia Police inspector and 26 year veteran, Carl S. Bittenbender.
“That’s one of the good things about Temple; it’s a big school, with a small school feel” said Becker. According to the Princeton Review, that’s not the only good thing about Philadelphia’s public university. Temple, like most other large institutions also has satellite campuses that offer most of the core curriculum.
Temple’s students are encouraged to take liberal arts classes and attain a well-rounded education. The university offers an immense variety of liberal arts courses many of which pertain to a specific, but locally relevant aspect or facet of society. Some topics included are “History of Blacks in Pennsylvania”, “Men and Masculinity”, “People and Places of Philadelphia”, “Hispanic Dialectology”.
In addition to their requirements per major, every student at Temple is required to enroll in what they call a “race” course. These courses include “The Asian American Experience”, “Ebonics: African American Languages”, “Puerto Rican Literature”.
Temple’s curriculum and requirements are perhaps a reflection of their population
Just last year, Temple was named “Best in the Northeast” for its “Diverse Student Population”.
When asked what they thought of their somewhat non-traditional curriculum, most students agreed with Fernandez when he said, “In the beginning I didn’t think they were necessary, after growing up in the city, I thought I knew a lot about diversity, but in all honesty I think they enriched what I knew, and really prepared a lot of people that suffered a pretty big culture shock when they moved from their small towns, to this very, very urban setting.”
“It really teaches you to be tolerant”, added Becker.
The voices of those who graduated today weren’t just happy, they were satisfied. “Temple is definitely the most underrated school in the area. When I say I go to Temple around here, its no big deal, but you would be surprised, once you cross a few state lines, the tone changes a little.” Becker insisted proudly.
“Keep an open mind, don’t believe everything you see or hear.” That was the message Professor Davis left the graduating class of winter 2007 today. The message stands far from commencement ceremony cliches, but nothing less would be expected from a Temple University professor.
