Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Arty Puntus delivers Finlandia University’s student address at Sunday’s commencement at the Hirvonen Auditorium.

HANCOCK — In his final graduation address as Finlandia University’s president, Philip Johnson thanked the graduating class of about 90 students for its excellence.

“For some of you, that meant five semesters of studying during a global pandemic, and I pause to say a special thanks to our nursing students and nursing graduates who helped us be a healthier campus and a healthier community through it all. I thank you for encouraging each other along the way. Finlandia is simply better because of you, so I thank you.”

The student representative was Artsiom “Arty” Puntus, a nursing major from Minsk, Belarus, who graduated summa cum laude. President of the student senate since 2020, Puntus also served as an orientation leader, student ambassador with Finlandia Admissions, an Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) Honors Society Member and the vice president of the Student Nurses Association.

Puntus spoke about the importance of dealing with adversity, telling a story about two stones that were close friends: one that stayed on the beach and grew old and cracked, and another that was swept out to sea and was sharpened into a beautiful piece of flint.

“When we deal with obstacles and adversity, it pushes us out of our comfort zone,” he said. “And that’s when we develop our coping skills and problem-solving skills as well.”

Puntus is part of the Optional Training Program, which helps international students looking to pursue meaningful careers and lives in the United States. His first job after graduation will be on the medical surgery floor of a Level I trauma hospital in South Carolina.

Commencement speaker was Vance Blackfox, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation who serves as director of indigenous ministries and tribal relations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Among his other endeavors has been founding and directing Other+Wise, a multi-site cultural education and cultural immersion program for youth and student groups from across the country.

He told the graduates about the importance of their story — not just of themselves, but of where they came from. He also asked them to think about the stories that others would tell of them.

“I’m so excited to hear one day the story that you’ll be telling, and the story that will be told about you,” he said. “I hope that in all that you do, and that in all the stories I hear about you, that you will be kind — kind to Mother Earth, kind to your relatives, kind to your neighbors, and kind to yourself.”

Sunday’s ceremony was held in Hirvonen Hall, named for the late Board Emeritus Ray Hirvonen, who died in December at 93. Johnson thanked Hirvonen, his wife Peggy, and his family for their support of the university.

The university also recognized Richard Gee, an assistant professor in criminal justice, with this year’s distinguished faculty award.