ANGOLA - Trine University hosted their spring 2024 commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 3.

The university hosted two ceremonies which brought an estimated 10,000 visitors to Angola.

The first ceremony took place at 10 a.m. at Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic and Recreation Center.

This main campus graduation ceremony had Lt. Col. Dan Rooney as their guest speaker.

Lt. Col. Rooney is "a PGA professional and fighter pilot who now leads efforts to assist families of disabled or deceased service members and first responders," said Trine University.

"He completed three tours of duty as an F16 pilot and is a best-selling author. He has founded and constructed two golf courses and has spoken to thousands of corporations and community groups."

Lt. Col. Rooney kept his speech brief.

He explained the many obstacles he faced before he found his success in both the Air Force and as a professional golfer.

"Here's the secret," said Lt. Col. Rooney, "I will is an unstoppable force in your life every day. However you decide to deploy it."

Trine University's President Dr. John Shannon and President of Academic Affairs Dr. Tony Kline presented Rooney with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Dr. Shannon opened the graduation ceremony by reminding the audience this ceremony was possibly the first in-person graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2024, as many of them were seniors in 2020 in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A second ceremony took place at 4 p.m. at the Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic and Recreation Center.

The College of Graduate and Professional Studies Graduate Programs commencement speaker was 1996 Tri-State University chemical engineering graduate Vipul Shah.

She is a highly regarded wealth advisor for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.

He was named one of Forbes' Best-In-State Wealth Advisors for 2020-2023.

And he was also the recipient of the 2019 Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award at Trine University.

Both ceremonies were live streamed at vimeo.com/trinebroadcasting.