Take on the scary stuff, Princeton Review publisher tells Drew grads

Robert Franek, publisher of the Princeton Review, addresses graduates at Drew University. Photo courtesy of Drew U.
Robert Franek, publisher of the Princeton Review, addresses graduates at Drew University. Photo courtesy of Drew U.
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Video: Franek 2015 commencement address at Drew

 

Robert Franek had only been on the job three weeks at the Princeton Review when he got tapped to pinch-hit for the boss on the Today show.

He was terrified.  And that was good.

“Take on the stuff that scares you right down to your toes,” Franek, C’93, advised graduates on Saturday at the 147th commencement ceremony of Drew University in Madison.

Franek and Madison Mayor Robert Conley received honorary degrees.  The graduating class — 348 students from the College of Liberal Arts, 105 from the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies and 120 from the Theological School–briefly donned rain ponchos outside Mead Hall until clouds passed.

As the lead author of The Best 379 Colleges, Franek is a sought-after speaker these days. But he remembered his early trepidation, and learned from it.

“Terrified and thrilled… nothing makes you feel more alive, more useful, and accomplished,” he said.

No matter if you fall on your face or you succeed wildly, the confidence that chances taken bring to us, as young graduates and throughout our lives, is priceless.

“Smart and accomplished college grads, no matter their well-intentioned plan, hit bumps, and they have failures and they scare themselves. And they make great choices and silly choices, and I wish each of these things for you because that’s the glory of it. That’s not cheating time or wasting time. That is living,” Franek said.

The entire ceremony can be viewed here.

And here is more, from the university:

Robert Franek, publisher of the Princeton Review, addresses graduates at Drew University. Photo courtesy of Drew U.
Robert Franek, publisher of the Princeton Review, addresses graduates at Drew University. Photo courtesy of Drew U.

Drew University Holds 147th Commencement Ceremony

Robert Franek C’93, Drew trustee and senior vice president and publisher of The Princeton Review, was keynote speaker and received an honorary degree.

Madison, N.J.—Robert Franek C’93, publisher of The Princeton Review, urged Drew University graduates at their Commencement Saturday to not be afraid to take chances. The outcome is less important than the trying, he said, “No matter if you fall on your face or you succeed wildly, the confidence that chances taken bring to us, as young graduates and throughout our lives, is priceless.”

“Smart and accomplished college grads, no matter their well-intentioned plan, hit bumps, and they have failures and they scare themselves,” Franek said. “And they make great choices and silly choices, and I wish each of these things for you because that’s the glory of it. That’s not cheating time or wasting time. That is living.”

There were 348 graduates from the College of Liberal Arts, 105 graduates from the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies and 120 graduates from the Theological School that graduated form Drew Saturday morning. Rain briefly threatened to interrupt the conferral of degrees, but graduates and audience members put on plastic rain ponchos that were provided by the university and after a few minutes, the sunny skies returned.

Students marched in to the sounds of bagpipes and filled chairs on the back lawn outside of Mead Hall, a Greek revival style former mansion that is on the National Historic Register. Drew President MaryAnn Baenninger welcomed the graduates and their families before awarding Franek and Madison Mayor Robert Conley honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.

Conley, who said he was humbled by receiving the honorary degree, said he’s learned in his tenure as mayor that things don’t always go as expected, citing an unexpected snowstorm that occurred shortly after he took office four years ago.

“The last four years we have received an education together,” he said. “Over the past four years we learned that life can throw curveballs.” The key, he said, is to form partnerships with others. Conley cited the Chief Executive Council of Madison, which the borough formed with Drew and Quest Diagnostics, which has offered internships and work experience to Drew students. “Look what you can do to partner with others, he advised those graduating.

Franek, who serves on Drew’s Board of Trustees, said he was first drawn to the school as a high school student when he visited the campus for a lecture. As the publisher of The Princeton Review, Franek estimated he’s visited more college campuses than anyone else in the United States, but that no where compares to Drew, which he said is respectful of the differences of others. “Drew lives by doing, by being an active enlightened collective,” he said. “Drew students are contagious with their energy. They are utterly comfortable in their own skin. They have a grace, ease and flat-out awesomeness.”

Franek is a sought-after speaker, television commentator, and expert in helping students find the right college. Franek is the lead author of “The Best 379 Colleges.”

Two graduating students also spoke. Kyle Biemiller, who received his bachelor of arts degree in Theatre Arts, was the speaker for the College of Liberal Arts. Arminta Fox spoke on behalf of the graduate schools and is a doctoral graduate in the Theological School.

Three faculty members were honored with distinguished teaching awards that were announced at Commencement. Melanie Johnson-DeBaufre, an associate professor of New Testament in the Theological School, was awarded the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church Scholar/Teacher Award. Lillie Edwards, a professor of history and African-American Studies, received the Thomas H. Kean Scholar/Mentor of the Year Award for the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Professor Maria Masucci, who teaches anthropology, received the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching for the College of Liberal Arts.

The Commencement program included live music performed by Drew’s choral groups and Pastor Don Wahlig, president of the Theological School Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates into Drew’s network of alumni. Both the senior class of the College of Liberal Arts and the Drew Theological School made gifts to the university to be used to better the lives of future students.

After the ceremony concluded, students and their families were invited to stay on campus for refreshments and to take photographs.

The entire Commencement can be seen on live stream at: https://livestream.com/DrewU/Commencement2015 and was shared on Drew’s social media platforms with the hashtag: #Drew15.

About Drew University

Drew University, a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts university, includes the College of Liberal Arts, the Drew Theological School and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Drew is located on a beautiful, wooded, 186-acre campus in Madison, New Jersey, a thriving small town close to New York City. Particularly noteworthy opportunities for undergraduates include the Wall Street Semester, Semester at the United Nations, Semester on Contemporary Art and Semester on Communications and Media in New York City, and several international semester opportunities. The university is home to the Center for Civic Engagement, the Drew Summer Science Institute, the Charles A. Dana Research Center for Scientists Emeriti (RISE) and the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, an independent professional theater, as well as the United Methodist Archives and History Center and one of the country’s leading concentrations of materials on Willa Cather.

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