Speaker cites Seuss at Ursuline ceremony

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One inventive graduate snapped his own photo.

By PATRICIA MEADE

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ursuline High School Class of 2007 can't go wrong if they embrace the lessons in "Horton Hatches the Egg."

Commencement speaker Dr. Robert Herbert, Youngstown State University provost, referred to the Dr. Seuss book about an elephant who hatches an egg for the irresponsible mother, Maysie, as "great literature."

Yes, he said it with a smile.

Herbert told the 120-plus graduates inside Stambaugh Auditorium on Saturday afternoon — girls in gold, boys in green — that Horton embodies integrity, responsibility and service. "He never breaks his promise," the speaker said.

For anyone out there not up on Horton, he sat on the egg while Maysie set off for a permanent vacation. His reward for perseverance: the birth of an elephant-bird.

Herbert, a linguist and anthropologist, also told a "beer-and-spit" story. During a visit to South Africa 25 years ago, he followed the lead of Zulu men who had invited him inside a dark and smoky homestead. He drank chalky warm beer from a bowl that had passed from man to man and, as those before him had done, spit in the bowl after taking a sip.

The lesson of the ritual story, he said, was to be mindful of traditions; they make you part of a community.

Judging by license plates, some graduates' well-wishers traveled from Illinois, Virginia and Florida to attend the 99th commencement. The stately auditorium on Fifth Avenue bulged with seniors' families and friends, many recording the event with digital cameras.

Where some grads are headed

Laughter rippled through the auditorium when Keon Ho Seo accepted his diploma with one hand and snapped his own photo doing it with the other. He turned to the audience and smiled as he left the stage.

Herbert's daughter, Vera, was chosen valedictorian. She's headed to the North Carolina School of the Arts to study film production.

Salutatorian Catherine Tomko will study political communication at George Washington University.

With a big grin, graduating senior Brandon Gialousis said he will attend Youngstown State University to study civil engineering.

Ann Grhim said her granddaughter, Brittney McKinney, is going to be a lawyer.

State Rep. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, said his son, James, will attend Oberlin College to study international relations.

Don Hanni III quipped that he'd ask for a recount if his son didn't get a diploma. No worries. Don Hanni IV left the stage with the coveted green folder. He will attend Norwich University in Vermont.

"We love you. We wish you well. Go Irish," principal Patricia Fleming said at the close of the commencement.

meade@vindy.com

Sunday, June 3, 2007