"Here at St. Vincent College, you have learned that service outside the classroom is as important as what you learn inside the classroom," Bush told the graduating class of nearly 300. "The challenge for you is to keep this up as you begin your new careers, and your new families and your new lives."
Bush was greeted with warm applause and some whistles and cheers when he arrived at Friday's ceremonies in the school's gymnasium.
No signs of protest were seen or heard from the crowd of about 2,000, despite recent disagreement on campus as to whether Bush was an appropriate speaker. In a student forum and in a letter written by 30 current and retired faculty members, those opposed to Bush's presence questioned whether the war in Iraq and his economic and environmental policies conflict with the school's Benedictine roots.
Bush was introduced by St. Vincent President H. James Towey, a friend and former director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Towey, college Chancellor Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki and three students greeted the president after his helicopter entourage landed on the college's intramural fields.
Towey said he is grateful to be considered one of the president's friends. "History asks much of America's presidents, and it has demanded a great deal from you, Mr. President. And I suspect it will until the end of your term," Towey said. "In my opinion, you've stayed strong and true to your convictions."
Bush urged the graduates to stay true to their ideals. "When you serve your fellow citizens, you find benefits you'll never imagine," he said. "You discover that a caring person is sometimes all it takes for someone to turn their lives around. You see for yourself that kindness and respect make an enormous difference in a person's life."
In his speech, Bush lauded five members of the class of 2007 who have volunteered for military service, as well as nearly four dozen who plan to become teachers. He talked about students who volunteered at an all-boys school in one of the poorest areas of New Jersey and at an AIDS clinic in Brazil.
"Lead lives of purpose and character. Make a difference in someone else's life," Bush said. "And if you do, you will lead richer lives, you will build a more hopeful nation, and you'll never be disappointed."
Bush's speech didn't focus solely on the serious. He spoke warmly of his friendship with Towey, calling him "Mr. President" throughout the speech.
Bush joked about a letter Towey sent him inviting him to speak. "Here is what Mr. President said: 'Mr. President, I believe that by hearing you speak, every member of the Class of 2007 will leave this campus with a priceless lesson about the importance of the English language,'" Bush said to laughter. "At least he didn't say, 'I'm proud to welcome to the podium a man, the first president for whom English was a second language.'"
A half-mile from the commencement, about 125 people -- some from national peace organizations and some local residents who oppose the war -- gathered along Route 30 to protest Bush's appearance. Celeste Zappala, of Philadelphia, had an image of her late son, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, 30, on her T-shirt. Baker, the first Pennsylvania National Guardsman to die in combat since World War II, was killed in Baghdad on April 26, 2004. "I'm tired (of President Bush) using my son's death as an excuse to remain in Iraq," she said. "There's no good reason for any more Americans to lose their precious lives over there."
Marty O'Malley, a councilman from Forest Hills in Allegheny County and a 1963 St. Vincent alumnus, opposed the choice of Bush as speaker. "I'm extremely disappointed. He was chosen as commencement speaker by his friends who work at St. Vincent, who accept and condone that George Bush started a war all based on lies and, unfortunately, Americans are still losing their lives," O'Malley said.
But on campus, graduates said they were glad to have Bush as their commencement speaker. "Not many people are going to be able to say, 'I had the president speak at my graduation,'" said Matthew Kachonik, of Blairsville, who earned a degree in marketing.
Towey said he was "delighted and relieved" that Bush's visit went smoothly. "The nation saw what Benedictine hospitality looks like," Towey said. "It showed you can civilly disagree. It was a real message to the country on how you can be great Americans, you can disagree, but when the president of the United States comes, you respect the office."
Towey seems to have set his sights even higher for next year's commencement. He asked for some help from Bush, who plans to visit Pope Benedict XVI next month. "Could you ask him a favor?" Towey said. "Could you tell him that St. Vincent College is looking for a commencement speaker for next year?"