Speaker Robert Kiss urged the Class of 1998 to recognize the value of the non-material things in their lives during an address at Wheeling Jesuit University's milestone 40th Commencement ceremony May 9. Kiss cited the example of a group of lawyers arguing over how much money the late billionaire Howard Hughes left behind after his death.
Materialism is a hopelessly closed circle.
Kiss, who was first elected to the House in 1988 and has been speaker since January of 1997, added a message that dates back to the Sermon on the Mount and has endorsed by many of the world's greatest philosophers. Prior to his speech, Kiss was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university. An honorary Doctor of Humanities degree celebrating the importance of family was given to Henry and Beverly Hawk of Lima, Ohio. The Hawks, who have contributed an endowment to WJU that yields 25 scholarships annually, principally to Ohio residents, recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Close to 200 students made up the Class of '98, including Erika Harris, a biology major from South Charleston, W.Va., who served as valedictorian.