Photo by Sam Yu Mount Saint Mary’s University graduates scanned a packed Knott Arena for friends and family during the Mount’s bicentennial commencement exercises Sunday morning.

But all 376 seniors wore a tiny piece of gold-toned jewelry that united them.

The pin -- featuring a track shoe, a baseball cap with the initials DMB, and angel wings -- honored the memory of Dustin Michael Bauer, a member of the class who died March 12 of injuries sustained in an on-campus fall.

The pin adorned the gown of every graduate during Sunday's commencement ceremony and could be seen on the clothing of many other students, family members and friends.

Bauer's name was included in the program listing of graduates and his name was called in the ceremony to award diplomas.

With the announcement of his name, the stage remained empty; no one took the traditional walk to shake a few hands, receive a diploma and smile for pictures. It took a few seconds for the audience to recover from the moment's raw emotion, and then Knott Arena erupted in cheers and applause as everyone in attendance stood in a final tribute to a classmate and friend.

But while the ceremony was tinged with sadness, the overall message sent to the members of the Class of 2008 -- Mount St. Mary's bicentennial class -- was one of hope.

The graduation date of May 11 was a convergence of two special occurrences. The bicentennial class received diplomas on Pentecost Sunday and Mother's Day.

In his comments, university President Thomas H. Powell acknowledged every type of mother in the audience and said the graduation was a great way to celebrate Mother's Day.

He said he overheard a dad say it was also a great way to celebrate Father's Day because of the increased income they would enjoy following graduation.

A unique spirit

Commencement speaker the Most Reverend Edwin O'Brien, archbishop of Baltimore, said he would consider it a privilege to deliver a graduation speech on the Mount's campus on any spring day, but to have been asked on such a special and historic day was even more of a privilege. Read O'Brien's speech.

He praised the quality and vision of the school's solid Catholic education and told those gathered that the Mount has graduated 1,900 men who went go on to be ordained as priests and 49 graduates who became bishops, a number that he said grows annually.

O'Brien spoke of the early days of the United States, "when American democracy was suspect in Rome and Catholicism was suspect in America."

The fledgling concept of religious freedom began in this state, he said.

"And while Maryland is the sacred ground for religious freedom, Emmitsburg is the sacred ground for Catholic education."

O'Brien acknowledged the special bonds formed by those who are educated at the "mountain home," a phrase used by many to describe the university.

"I suspect you have found a community here at the Mount that you won't find elsewhere," O'Brien told graduates.

He credited a "unique spirit" with helping to build that sense of community -- he said the Holy Spirit has played as important a role in their education as the academic elements.

As graduations go, this one was pretty tame. No outlandish creations were stuck atop mortarboards, no controversial comments were uttered from the podium and no one protested the choice of speaker.

Footsteps on the mount

The dignified event was made somber by the loss of a classmate mentioned by several speakers, including senior class president Jonathan Pressimone, who received his degree in theology.

"Dustin Bauer -- 'Puff' -- was and is one of the most cherished members of our class," Pressimone said in his address. "He is missed but he will always be part of the Mount."

Business professor Charles Beitz, one of three faculty members promoted to the rank of university professor during the ceremony, was asked by President Powell to give the faculty address, affectionately called The Last Lecture.

Beitz implored graduates to strive to be servant leaders.

He held up the servant leadership example of the late Emilio Rodriguez, a Mount professor who died in his sleep in Ireland in October. The 56-year-old was spending the semester abroad teaching Mount students in the international program in Dublin.

"(Rodriguez's) footsteps will always be felt on the mountain," Beitz said.

He told the students that because of their education, talents and skills, they will be called to lead parts of society. He implored them to answer that call and make a difference in the world.

Beitz mentioned the Dustin Bauer Memorial Fund as an example of their willingness to serve and think of others.

Started by Bauer's family, the fund received a contribution from the sale of the angel wing pins, which were designed by senior Jamie Penrose and sold for $5 each.

Beitz called the effort and fund "a living gift that will keep Dustin's memory alive here on the mountain."

In his closing comments, Howell told the new graduates to "go forth from this holy mountainside" to do good in the world.

"Return often to the Mount," he said. "May the love and peace of Christ be with you always."