Campus & Community

Palm Beach State College conferred more than 2,400 degrees and certificates during two commencement ceremonies Monday at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater delivered the keynote address at the morning commencement ceremony for graduates of the Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs along with the certificate programs. State Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, was the keynote speaker at the afternoon ceremony for the 1,440 Associate in Arts degree graduates who comprise nearly 60 percent of the graduating class.

Atwater encouraged graduates to “live a meaningful life,” not one solely grounded in obtaining prestige, fame or fortunes.

“I do not wish you power, that kind of power that comes with elite titles. I do not wish you riches, the kind of riches that are measured with material wealth. I do not wish you glory, that glory that comes with fame that is a product of self-centered vanity,’’ Atwater said. “I wish for you only one thing. I wish for you a meaningful life —that your presence, that your time, that your life matters to someone else.”

Sachs challenged graduates to “be disruptive.”

“Don’t accept mediocrity in yourself or in your communities or in your country,’’ she said. “Challenge the status quo.”

In paraphrasing Ghandi, Sachs also encouraged graduates to “be that change that you want in the world.”

“Instead of mocking what is going on in the national politics today, be a part of the discourse that talks about unity and humanity,” she said, noting that graduates can affect change by joining political campaigns, learning about other cultures and voting. “Don’t ever accept crude statements and simple  solutions for our national problems so that you become a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.”

The ceremonies also included remarks by PBSC President Ava L. Parker and Wendy Link, chair of the District Board of Trustees.