Harrisburg, PA – On May 9, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) celebrated more than 800 new scientists, technologists, and philosophers at its 17th Commencement Ceremony at The Forum Auditorium. More than 1,500 members of the community attended.
Themes for the evening included resilience, curiosity, lifetime learning, and technology’s rapid advancement.
“We need more scientists and technologists winning seats at the table than ever before,” said Harrisburg University President Eric Darr, PhD. “Those graduating have demonstrated intense resilience and perseverance. You make me proud, you make HU proud, and you make Pennsylvania proud.”
The Commencement Address was given by Josué Estrada, a Silicon Valley leader best known for his leadership at DHL, Salesforce, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Mr. Estrada shared three principles he’s used over his 30-year career to chart his course. The first is “Learn.”
“I realized early on that I needed to be comfortable with the unknown. Not knowing everything about a job is scary. It brings doubts about our capabilities. Some people refer to this as imposter syndrome. I call it opportunity.”
The second pillar is “Contribute.”
“The companies I’ve worked for put their trust in me. They allowed me to learn new skills and knowledge I didn’t have before. I never took this for granted. It was only fair for me to contribute more than expected.”
“I started working at the family business in Mexico City when I was 14. After school, I spent my afternoons learning how to fix cars instead of playing soccer or going to the mall. Work takes away time you wish you had for things you like. Some people say the best way to find happiness is find what you like to do and make it a job. The chances of that happening are slim. Pursuing a career should not detract from finding joy.”
That brought Mr. Estrada to his third pillar: “Enjoy.”
“Your time is limited. What’s the point of being someplace that doesn’t bring you joy? I associate joy not only with having fun, but also being aligned with an organization’s mission, vision, and values.”
He summarized: “Learn, contribute, enjoy … all should be balanced. Most importantly, give back to your community and those in need as much as possible. It’s one of the most rewarding feelings you will have. My beautiful wife and kids remind me that the most important thing in life is to give and receive love. No job will ever be a substitute for that.”
Harrisburg University thanks Mr. Estrada for his inspiring remarks and congratulates the Class of 2024 on their outstanding personal and academic achievements. We look forward to seeing your futures unfold with hope, pride, and excitement.
You can watch a video replay of the entire 2024 Commencement Ceremony here.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717-901-5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
