Latest news with #Galvis
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
History made: Westminster University honors its Class of '25 during school's 150th anniversary
Westminster University honors its annual graduating class of students every spring — but the Class of 2025 will forever hold a special distinction. This year, the private Salt Lake City university is celebrating its sesquicentennial. It was founded by the First Presbyterian Church in 1875 as the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute. The school's maiden cohort in 1875? Twenty-seven students. Westminster University has, of course, grown over the past 150 years. It's now large enough to offer a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees — but it remains small enough that most of the faces that a Westminster student spots around campus will likely be familiar. That dual dynamic was evident Saturday at Westminster University's graduation exercises for undergraduates on the school's Dumke Field. A ceremony for students awarded graduate degrees was held a day earlier. In her opening remarks Saturday, Westminster President Beth Dobkin said the 'Griffins' from the Class of 2025 enter a legacy 150 years in the making — and one that's built to meet the evolving needs of students, communities and workplaces. 'As we celebrate the sesquicentennial milestone, we honor those who came before you and look ahead to the future,' she said. 'Your time here has prepared you with the knowledge to think freely and with discernment. The wisdom to navigate complexity. The imagination to create a better future. And the agency to take action.' Beyond the skills acquired while pursuing their respective degrees, added Dobkin, Westminster's newest class of graduates have also learned the importance of building bridges, leading with humility and inspiring changes to serve all. 'You have the skills to launch careers and build a life of purpose as you carry Westminster's legacy forward and embrace new challenges with integrity and confidence,' she said. 'Keep learning and growing. The world needs your insight, creativity, passion and courage.' Juanita Galvis — who claimed a double major in marketing and international business — was Saturday's undergraduate student speaker. A native of Colombia, Galvis saluted her homeland's rich tradition of weavers who craft handwoven bags, tapestries and jewelry that represent generations of hard work and resilience. 'When I think of our journey here, I think of each of us as strands of yarn,' she told her fellow students. 'Coming from different places and backgrounds, we have intertwined at Westminster. 'We have come together to this beautiful campus, each to be part of this tapestry we now call home.' Galvis recalled arriving at Westminster University feeling tangled and confused — like threads in a tight knot — about which direction to follow. She battled uncertainty. She was the first in her family to attend college in the United States. She did not always feel wanted in every space. 'This was not the case at Westminster,' she said. 'I thank my marketing cohort and mentors because they taught me that my major can amplify voices and amplify the right messages — making space for those who often feel unwanted, such as fellow international students and students of color. 'Westminster has not only empowered my dreams, but defined them.' Galvis was initially hesitant to attend a small school. Those fears soon faded. 'I realized that Westminster is a campus with unmatched and unending opportunities,' she said. 'Because of Westminster's size and inclusivity, we are all interconnected. We have friends from all areas of campus, from all majors and from all departments. Because at Westminster, it is impossible to walk around without saying 'Hi' to at least three people.' The 'masterpiece' weaved at Westminster does not end with graduation, Galvis concluded. 'It is expanding with every step we take from here — we will carry this fabric of resilience and beauty. … I know that we are woven for greatness.' Friday's graduate student speaker was Melissa Badger, who claimed a master's degree in accounting. Badger arrived at Westminster University with several years of experience in the accounting field, but she pursued graduate studies to expand her professional opportunities. When she applied for graduate studies at Westminster, she never envisioned speaking in front of her fellow graduates. 'But isn't that the beauty of life?' she marveled. 'Taking a path to a specific destination and allowing it to unfold into more than you ever knew possible.' Westminster's graduation ceremony, added Badger, is 'the threshold to each of our legacies.' 'You're never too old or too young to continue to learn, grow and develop into greater mastery,' she said. 'Keep expanding your mind and your heart. Opportunity is all around — but it is up to each one of us to see it. 'Reach out our hands and claim it for ourselves and the communities we serve.' This year, Westminster awarded 320 degrees — 198 undergraduate and 122 graduate. Graduates represent 26 states and 21 countries and range in age from 20 to 63. Nine graduates are the first in their families to attend college. Several faculty awards were presented during the graduation ceremonies. Stephanie Stroud, an associate professor of theater, was awarded the Manford A. and June Shaw Faculty Publication Prize. Connie Etter, an associate professor of justice studies and honors, received both the Manford A. and June Shaw Faculty Publication Prize and the Excellence in Teaching Award of the Bill and Vieve Gore Endowment Trust.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Leyden Police Chief placed on probation after admitting to larceny
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Former Leyden Police Chief Daniel J. Galvis was placed on one year of probation and ordered to pay nearly $11,000 in restitution to the town. According to the Northwestern DA's Office, Galvis admitted to sufficient facts in a theft case involving town-owned property. Former Leyden Police Chief charged with larceny Galvis was in Greenfield District Court on Thursday, where he changed his plea to admit sufficient facts on charges of larceny over $1,200 and violating public employee conduct standards. Judge Mazanec continued the charges without a finding, meaning they could be dismissed if Galvis repays the full $10,950 in restitution within 30 days and avoids further legal trouble during the probation period. The charges stem from the unauthorized sale of town property, including a skid steer loader, a motor, a trailer, and a Ford truck, which Galvis allegedly took possession of and sold between 2018 and 2021 while serving as Leyden's police chief. As part of a plea agreement, two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, an additional count of larceny over $1,200, and two more counts of violating public conduct standards were dismissed. The case followed a 2022 investigation, which was prompted by a complaint to its Fraud Hotline. Investigators concluded that Galvis had improperly taken and sold town equipment, failing to return the proceeds to the municipality. At the time of the arraignment, Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro issued a statement, saying, 'It is an affront to the community when a public official violates their oath of office to enrich themselves, as is alleged in this case. I am most appreciative that District Attorney Sullivan and his team brought forward this prosecution and know its significance to the people of Leyden. I hope that the work done by the OIG investigators underscores our commitment to protect public resources from fraud, waste or abuse,' said Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro. Galvis still faces civil enforcement proceedings from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, which issued an Order to Show Cause in April 2024 outlining allegations related to the misconduct. The former chief's probation period is set to last one year. If restitution is paid on time and Galvis remains in compliance with the court's conditions, the charges may be dismissed. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
