Walsh University honored its 2016 summer and fall graduates during the Winter Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, December 18.
This year’s Commencement Speaker was The Honorable James B. Renacci. During the Ceremony, President Jusseaume announced the establishment of the new James B. Renacci Forum & Center for Civic Engagement, which will serve as an epicenter for collaboration, research and civic engagement on Walsh’s campus.
Serving his third term representing the 16th district of Ohio in the United States House of Representatives, Congressman Renacci also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Walsh. Among his many professional and personal accomplishments, Renacci is also responsible for the establishment of the James B. Renacci Government Scholars Program in 2013 to provide Walsh students with an opportunity to enhance their experiences in pursuit of a career in government or community service at the state, local or federal level. The Renacci Government Scholars Program provides scholarship and internship opportunities in the field for students who are in need of financial assistance.
The Senior Address was presented by SPS Graduate Joanne Hoffman and the Walsh University Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to St. Anthony/All Saints Parish Hispanic Pastoral Minister Sister Karen Lindenberger. The Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to those who have rendered distinguished professional or voluntary service to others within the national, regional or local Walsh University community. Those who are awarded this honor reflect the University’s steadfast commitment to the strength of noble character.
Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient: The Honorable James B. Renacci
Jim Renacci was elected to the United States House of Representatives in November of 2010 and is serving his third term representing the 16th district of Ohio. Currently he serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Budget Committee.
Jim grew up in a working class, union family in western Pennsylvania—his father was a railroad worker and his mother was a nurse. He was the first in his family to graduate from college and paid his own way through school by working a wide range of jobs, including as a truck driver, a mechanic and on a road crew. In 1980 he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
After graduating college, Jim became a Certified Public Accountant and went to work for Grant Thornton in Pittsburgh, specializing in their health care accounting practice. In 1983, Jim left Pittsburgh for Wadsworth, Ohio, where he founded LTC Management Services, a company that owned, operated and managed nursing facilities throughout the region. Jim also founded a CPA firm in 1989, along with several other business ventures. Throughout his 30-year business career Jim owned and operated over 60 entities, created more than 1,500 jobs and employed over 3,000 people.
In addition to his work helping grow Northeast Ohio’s economy as a private sector business owner, Jim has also dedicated much of his life to public service. He spent five years as a volunteer firefighter in Wadsworth, served on the city’s Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and was later elected to two terms as President of the City Council. In 2004, Jim was elected Mayor of Wadsworth, where he successfully balanced the city’s $80 million budget and converted a multi-million dollar deficit into a surplus, without raising taxes.
Outside of his work in the business world and public service, Jim and his wife Tina have raised three children, one daughter and two sons. Jim is a faithful member of his local Parish and has ushered at Mass for over 20 years. His service to Walsh University includes the establishment of the James B. Renacci Government Scholars Program in 2013 to provide Walsh students with an opportunity to enhance their experiences in pursuit of a career in government or community service at the state, local or federal level. The Renacci Government Scholars Program provides scholarship and internship opportunities in the field for students who are in need of financial assistance.
For Jim, serving in Congress is an opportunity to give back to his country and his community, while seeking to advance the common sense conservative principles we need to restore strength to our economy and accountability to our government. He is deeply proud of his working class roots, where he learned the value of hard work and developed his unyielding commitment to preserving the American Dream. He is honored to serve the people of the 16th District as their voice in Washington and hopes to continue his work with both Republicans and Democrats to help our nation meet the many challenges it faces today.
Walsh Distinguished Service Medal: Sister Karen Lindenberger
As a Franciscan nun for more than 50 years, Sister Karen Lindenbergerhas devoted her life to helping those in need. A member of the Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, Ohio, Sr. Karen, as Hispanic Pastoral Minister, serves as the coordinator of the Hispanic Community at St. Anthony/All Saints Parish in Canton, Ohio.
One of nine children, Sr. Karen grew up on a farm in northwest Ohio. As a young girl, she first encountered the Sisters of St. Francis at a small parish in Peru, Ohio. She felt an immediate connection to the nuns and followed her older sister Betty’s footsteps to attend the Sisters’ aspirant school for young people who felt called to religious life. After her high school graduation, Sr. Karen stayed on and eventually took her final vows in the Order.
She began her ministry in education where she served as a first grade teacher for 28 years. Later her service also included nine years serving the poor in a parish in Appalachia and several years as a missionary in Chiapas, Mexico, where she was first introduced to the Hispanic/Latino culture that would become the focus of her ministry today in Stark County.
At the age of 60, Sr. Karen followed her heart and made a commitment to devote her service to helping the Latino immigrant communities. In preparation, she traveled to San Antonio for a three-month intensive course in Spanish and returned to Chiapas to assist in the missionary work that continued there.
In 2005, she joined the St. Anthony/All Saints Parish in Canton, Ohio, as a full-time Hispanic Minister, overseeing the outreach services, cultural events, faith formation classes for adults and children, summer school ESL sessions for 5-year-olds, and weekly Mass in Spanish. But Sr. Karen’s efforts go far beyond her official duties as she passionately advocates for the rights of others, rejoices in their personal achievements, and offers comfort and strength to those in need. Initiated by Fr. Thomas G. Bishop in 2001 and supported by grants from the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, these programs also involve access to basic necessities, interpretation services, transportation, home visits, and, most importantly, a welcoming embrace to all who come.
In 2015, Sr. Karen was recognized as a Community Woman of Distinction by Soroptimist International of Canton/Stark County, Ohio, for her tireless work with the Hispanic Community, especially with the women and children she serves so faithfully.