Hundreds of students waited eagerly in the concourse of the Petersen Events Center. The… Hundreds of students waited eagerly in the concourse of the Petersen Events Center. The atmosphere brimmed with nervous excitement, as the chatter of those in black caps and gowns rose to a fever pitch.

This level of the Petersen, where students exercised in Baierl Recreation Center and ate Burger King for the past four or five years, served as a final holding pen, as they waited to be celebrated by thousands of friends and family members who patiently sat on the other side of the concourse wall.

The line began to shuffle anxiously, then visibly moved. Unless they were student athletes, most of these soon-to-be graduates have never traveled this hidden path – the secret hallways and stairwells that snake down to the arena’s floor.

Pitt held its 2007 Commencement at 1 p.m. Sunday, conferring an estimated 6,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees to students at its main Oakland campus.

Some students smiled with delight. Others, like Kevin Topolski, smiled in relief.

“This was a long time coming,” Topolski, a film and religious studies major, said. “Just glad to finally get the pressure off.”

Some students wore frowns and melancholy faces; some felt tears crawl down their cheeks in sad disbelief that this moment marked the end of their college careers.

“It’s fantastic to be done,” Kristina Wehner said. “I’m sad to leave for sure. But you gotta go sometime, right?”

On the main floor, waiting for the procession to settle into place, students talked on cell phones, trying to pinpoint their family and friends in the bustling crowd. Some students taped small sayings to the top of their caps, such as “Hi, Mom,” so they could be easily recognized.

Parents cried sentimentally. Family members and friends waved frantically while they shouted, “Congratulations!” “Way to go!” “Over here!”

The procession lasted close to 30 minutes, and students waved, cheered, laughed and cried the whole time. The class of 2007, spellbound, drank in the moment.

Eventually, Chancellor Nordenberg calmed the frenzy and began the proceedings.

He presented an honorary doctorate to former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge for his dedication to the University and service to the country.

Ridge is a main reason the Petersen Events Center was built in the first place. As governor, before being appointed as Director of the Office of Homeland Security in 2001, he committed $53 million in state funds to the construction of the Petersen.

Ridge began his commencement speech by noting his gratitude for being able to step onto the floor of a major basketball stadium. It was one of his dreams when he was a young basketball player growing up in Erie.

After joking that the graduating doctoral students were excessively proud of him for receiving his degree in less than three minutes compared to their arduous journey, Ridge segued into his speech.

“Graduates, I will not make you suffer through a long speech any more than necessary,” Ridge said. “Someone once said that a graduating class shouldn’t enter the world without being properly sedated, and so began the ancient tradition of the commencement speaker who’s job it was to put the class to sleep.

“I’m not here this afternoon to talk you out of anything or talk you into anything,” continued Ridge. “I’m not here to advise you, direct you or try to persuade you. Actually, I decided to applaud and thank you for what you’ve already done, what you are already doing, and what you already know.”

Ridge delivered an encouraging and applauding speech, one that congratulated students for their accomplishments, for their ability to globally extend a compassionate hand to those in need, for embracing patriotism and for utilizing technology and innovation.

Ridge spoke about students’ commitment to the global community. Technology has connected the world and has made it a much smaller place, he said, and students have been quick to adapt to these innovative changes.

Ridge highlighted the importance of technology today in staying connected to family, an advantage he did not have when he was stationed in Vietnam during the war.

Ridge avoided preaching advice until the end of his speech when he offered one piece of guidance.

“I do advise one thing,” he said. “Revel in your accomplishments today. It’s OK to marvel at yourselves and all that you will do tomorrow. Believe me, those who know you already are. As for now graduates, have faith, have fun and have hope. Know that your country is free and blessed, and you do truly have a wonderful future ahead.”

With this, Ridge left the stage.

Each school of graduates and doctorates were recognized, and, after Nordenberg capped off the ceremony by presenting the class of 2007, confetti and streamers were shot from the ceiling while the hanging jumbo-tron played audio and video of fireworks exploding from the Cathedral of Learning from a past event.

Graduates filed quickly out of the building and flowed onto the Petersen’s patios where families met with graduates in the warm sunlight for pictures, most featuring the Cathedral in the background.

Dan Sifer, still overjoyed from receiving a history degree just moments ago, found his family.

“It feels so good to be done,” Sifer said. “The whole thing was made better by [Ridge’s] speech. Instead of feeling bummed out I’m proud and excited to go on.

“And that’s the way it should be.”