St. Ambrose graduates hear message to stay involved in community

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By Mary Louise Speer | Sunday, May 11, 2008 8:04 PM CDT | () comments

Jeff Nesbitt, of Rock Island, waves to family and friends. (Jeff Cook/QUAD-CITY TIMES) Buy this Photo

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St. Ambrose Commencement

St. Ambrose University’s class of 2008 celebrated the end of a journey that began for many as wide-eyed freshmen four years ago and culminated Sunday in a stately graduation ceremony at the i wireless Center, Moline.

During the ceremony 652 degrees were given out by Sister Joan Lescinski, president of the university, and Bishop Martin Amos of the Davenport Diocese

“It is especially meaningful for me to bring this charge as I bring to a close my first year at St. Ambrose,” Lescinski said.

Emma Marie Crino, who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor‘s degree in history/teacher education, remained poised after her cap evidently decided to take a plunge. Lescinski helped her resecure the errant mortar board.

The ceremony was especially poignant for family and friends of Justin Mohr, of Maquoketa, Iowa. Mohr, who achieved summa cum laude honors, rolled across the stage in a wheelchair to accept his diploma.

Last winter, no one could predict if he would live to see graduation day. Mohr was injured in an accidental shooting last November.

The incident took place in rural Wyoming, near the Jackson County border. Mohr was airlifted to University Hospitals in Iowa City.

He lost a kidney and part of his liver and is paralyzed from the waist down. Family and friends cheered him on as he fought to get in good enough shape to return to St. Ambrose. Mohr was released from the hospital in early January and immediately plunged back into his studies with assistance from the college community.

“I just never really gave up,” he said. “Things are going pretty good. I have therapy a couple times a week and I have school too, so it’s a lot of work.”

His legs are showing more signs of movement, he said, and he hopes to walk, with assistance, using leg braces. Mohr plans to look for a job in the field of computer network administration.

Lescinski also recognized James Van Speybroeck, finance, economics and decision science professor, with a distinguished service award for 25 years of faculty service and Maggie Tinsman, a former Iowa state senator with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.

Clyde Mayfield, an advocate for youth, Barbara Ann “Bobbi” Rogalski, community volunteer and board member, and Edward Rogalski, former president of St. Ambrose, all received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees

“My interest through the years has been improving the quality of life for all people,” Tinsman said in an interview after the ceremony. Receiving that honor motivates her all the more to work with St. Ambrose on matters of social justice, she said.

Mayfield, the commencement speaker, was introduced as an advocate for education, retired firefighter and co-owner and operator of Greatest Grains in Davenport. His community service has included participation in the Davenport Civil Rights Commission, Davenport School Board and Quad-City Interfaith.

“One of the most powerful words in the world is love,” he said. “I like to give to others and inspire so they can (give) as well. I’m not special. There’s plenty of people who do what I do. But ... there should be more people trying to live their lives that way.”

Mayfield shared examples of individuals who have inspired him to share of himself with the community. Last December he engaged in a never-to-be-forgotten conversation with John Wooden, 97, legendary UCLA basketball coach and creator of “Pyramid of Success.”

Many of Mayfield’s earliest lessons in nurturing and community came from his grandmother, Emogene Scott, of Monroe City, Mo.

“Grandma took care of community, but she did it in a simple way. She was not a rich person,” he said.

Both Scott and his mother were the center of community wherever they were, he said. “Their home was community. Their church was community. Wherever, they lived that was where people would come to. Whenever someone needed help, advice, that’s where they went,” he said.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.