Springfield College awarded 976 diplomas during its undergraduate commencement Sunday morning at the MassMutual Center. Watch video
SPRINGFIELD – Plans are important, Harvard football coach Timothy L. Murphy told Springfield College’s class of 2012 Sunday.
As a coach, he wouldn’t think of heading into a game without a meticulously prepared and highly detailed game plan customized to that week’s opponent.
“If you are going to do that for one game, you had better do that for your life, “ said Murphy, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Springfield College in 1978 and 1979.
Murphy told graduates that just having a plan isn’t enough. Write it down. Then put that plan somewhere where you will see it each and every day.
Today, Murphy is the winningest coach in Harvard football history. But he took graduates back to his days as an underpaid graduate assistant coach at Brown University.
Back then, he had to work a second job, the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift at a Pawtucket, R. I., extrusion mill, just to put a roof over his head and food in his belly. After working at the mill, he would grab some sleep then head to the football offices at Brown.
“That was a grind,” Murphy said. “But you will find that if you want something in life, you are going to have to grind it out.”
Springfield College awarded 976 diplomas during its undergraduate commencement Sunday morning at the MassMutual Center.
It was Springfield College’s 126th commencement
At a graduate-school commencement Saturday, Springfield College awarded 650 master’s degrees, six certificates of advanced graduate study, 13 doctor of philosophy degrees, and 27 doctor of physical therapy degrees. Charles H. Rucks of Springfield, executive director of Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services Inc., was the featured speaker Saturday and received an honorary doctorate.
Springfield College also awarded an honorary degree Sunday to educator Sally M. Griggs of Northampton, a member of Springfield College’s board of trustees since 1999.
Class of 2012 member Christine L. Blanchard of Agawam has already been accepted to one graduate school and has an interview scheduled for another program. Blanchard received her bachelor’s degree Sunday in art therapy.
“I wasn’t that great a student in high school,” Blanchard said. “But here I am, about to graduate with honors. It’s amazing.”
Art therapy, she said, looks at art as a tool to help people improve their lives. That’s why she chose it as a course of study.
Springfield College President Richard B. Flynn took note during his remarks that Sunday was Mother’s Day.
“What better gift to a mother than to be witness to a child or grandchild receiving his or her degree,” Flynn said.