TCC Summer 2008 Commencement: Congratulations to the Graduates!

8/19/2008 - On August 16, the Texas Chiropractic College Community gathered to celebrate the College’s Commencement Exercises for Summer 2008. Delivering the commencement address was Dr. Jon Schwartzbauer, president of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic.

Richard Daniel Hall was the valedictorian for the class and was additionally honored with the Keeler Award, which recognizes the most outstanding student of each TCC class. Arturo Grimaldo was the Salutatorian.

In addition to honoring the students, two retiring faculty members were recognized for their many years of service. Dr. Ron Grabowski was at TCC for 21 years, teaching nutrition and clinical lab diagnosis among other courses, and Dr. Ed Fritsch was a member of the faculty for 22 years and retires as the head of the radiology department.

Here is the address Dr. Richard G. Brassard, president of TCC gave to the graduating class and all in attendance:

Good morning graduates! What a spectacular day this is. It marks the culmination of a lifetime of learning – not just the past 10 trimesters. I’ll elaborate on that in just a moment, but, first, I want to recognize the many family members, significant others and friends of the graduates who have gathered here this morning.

Many of you have known your graduate since birth. The rest of you showed up sometime later. No matter how long you’ve know this graduate, you all have one thing in common. You think enough of him or her to get up early on a Saturday morning and drive to our beautiful campus. You’ve come here to once again show your support and to celebrate this great accomplishment along with your graduate. Perhaps today, when the ceremony is over and the excitement has lessened a little, you’ll hear your brand new Doctor of Chiropractic say, “I couldn’t have done it without you.” That may or may not be a totally accurate statement, but I’m sure of one thing – this victory, this accomplishment wouldn’t be nearly as sweet without every one of you. Thank you for being here and for the tremendous support you’ve given to these outstanding men and women seated in front of me.

I mentioned earlier that this commencement exercise recognizes not just the effort you’ve put forth the past three to four years of your life but everything you’ve accomplished prior to that as well. To the best of my knowledge, not one of you was dropped off on campus the night before orientation by an alien spaceship! If you were, Dr. Haslund didn’t mention anything to me about it.

Most of you have about 17 years of academic studies, from kindergarten through undergraduate work, before entering TCC. Some of you have already experienced one career before deciding to become a chiropractor. Everything you’ve learned, everything you’ve done, everyone you’ve known – all of this has brought you to this threshold of your life. Today does not mark the ending nor the beginning but rather the continuation of who you are and who you are becoming.

As you walk out of the doors of this auditorium following graduation, keep in mind that not one of us here has achieved anything without the assistance of others. Mothers, fathers, siblings, teachers, mentors, friends – they all have contributed to this wonderful moment in your lives.

And graduates, I know that you’re anxious to get hooded and be officially recognized for the work and sacrifice that you and your families have made over the past few years. But we, your teachers, mentors and now colleagues, have a few more words of wisdom we wish to share with you.

Now I’d like to tell you a little about our next speaker, Dr. Jon Schwartzbauer, president of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, who will deliver the commencement address.

Dr. Schartzbauer is a 1997 graduate of Sherman College, and received the school’s highest honor for a student, the Milton W. Garfunkel Award at his own commencement. He and his wife Mitzi, also a Sherman graduate, moved back to Minnesota to open a private practice. During five years in practice, Jon and Mitzi not only aided the health and well-being of their community, but also became the team chiropractors for the St. Paul Saints, a minor-league baseball team.

In 2002, his passion for chiropractic and for his alma mater drew him back to Sherman College as a member of the faculty. He quickly moved up the ranks, distinguishing himself as an instructor, researcher and administrator. Prior to his presidency, he served the college as vice president for academic affairs, director of the Leadership and Practice Management Institute and a member of the Chiropractic Health Center faculty.

The Sherman College Board of Trustees designated him as the school’s president last summer, and he took over that position just over a year ago, on August 13.

Graduates and distinguished guests, I’m pleased to introduce Dr. Jon Schwartbauer.