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Just as many of them entered college when Hurricane Katrina made landfall nearly four years, spring 2009 graduates now leave school facing a world clouded by a storm of economic and political uncertainty. In such conditions, University of Southern Mississippi commencement speaker and Southern Miss alumnus William Phalen’s message to graduates Friday was to consider standards other than financial or material wealth against which to measure their future success. “With this recession, the political and economic landscape is going a change a bit,” he said. “There’s going to be less control and influence from Wall Street. “But we have to self-regulate. We need to do some calibrating,” Phalen said. “We should focus more on each other and value the pleasure we gain from the relationships we have with family and friends, than on making a lot of money.” Those graduates impacted by Katrina, but persevered to attain their degree, have a durability that will serve them well as they begin to shape a life for themselves in the midst of the nation’s turbulent economy, Phalen said. “Their future is never as bright as it is now,” he said. “They’ve overcome adversity and have the DNA to handle any challenge in front of them.” Phalen is CEO and chairman of Cities West Publishing Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz. Founded in 1997 by Phalen, the company produces shelter and city magazines and directories for the Southwestern United States. He addressed more than 1,400 graduates at two ceremonies Friday at Reed Green Coliseum. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Southern Miss and is a member of the Hall of Fame for both the Southern Miss Alumni Association and the School of Mass Communication and Journalism. Phalen also is a member of the School’s advisory board. Mississippi coast businessman and community leader Jerry St. Pé was also recognized at the Hattiesburg commencement exercises. St. Pé, a Pascagoula resident and former president of Ingalls Shipbuilding and retired executive vice president of Litton Industries, will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Saturday during Southern Miss Gulf Coast’s graduation ceremony at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, set for 10 a.m. St. Pé is the fifth person to receive such recognition from the university. He served as commencement speaker for Southern Miss’ 1991 commencement ceremony. “I’m grateful for this honor which stands alone, without equal, as I think of the recognitions throughout my career,” he said. The speaker for Saturday’s Gulf Coast ceremony is Maj. Gen. Paul F. Capasso, former commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. He is currently director of Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems, U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany. A 1985 graduate of Southern Miss, Capasso holds a master of science degree in teleprocessing science. He received a bachelor of science degree in behavioral science in 1978 from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Southern Miss alumnus William Phalen, who is chairman, CEO and founder of Cities West Publishing Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz. addresses spring 2009 Southern Miss graduates Friday at Reed Green Coliseum (Southern Miss Marketing and Public Relations photo by Steve Rouse)
Candidates for graduation at The University of Southern Mississippi await the start of commencement exercises Friday at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg. More than 1,400 degrees were conferred on undergraduate and graduate students in two ceremonies. (Southern Miss Marketing and Public Relations photo by Steve Rouse) About The University of Southern Mississippi The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities. In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.
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