香蕉传媒

As crowds entered the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) on Sunday, May 11, a palpable buzz of excitement began to fill the air. Friends, families, and the graduating Class of 2025 gathered to celebrate the culmination of time spent at 香蕉传媒. Among the graduates stood Jason Amireault ’25, a double major in Business Management and Marketing with minors in Finance and Social Media Studies from Esko, MN. Selected to be the undergraduate speaker for commencement, Amireault prepared to share the experiences that profoundly shaped him during his time at the College.

Discovering passion and community

Amireault鈥檚 journey to this moment was neither linear nor simple. Originally drawn to nursing 鈥� a path inspired by his mother鈥檚 career in health care 鈥� he arrived at St. Scholastica overwhelmed by choice and uncertainty. He quickly realized health care wasn鈥檛 the right industry for him. 鈥淚 took an introduction to business course, and I actually fell in love with it,鈥� he said. This newfound major sparked a love of learning he hadn鈥檛 felt in some time, especially after the disruptions to his education caused by COVID-19.

Reflecting on his time as a Saint, Amireault recounted another memorable experience from his freshman year: 鈥淚t was the second night on campus, and my buddy from high school and I had no idea what we were going to do.鈥� Their spontaneous decision to start knocking on the doors of their Somers Hall neighbors led to initial friendships. 鈥淓veryone was super genuine and nice and wanted to meet us and have conversations.鈥�

Over the years, Amireault discovered that the tight-knit community he had experienced during his first year had only deepened. He reflected on the simple yet profound daily interactions with friends, conversations that would soon be replaced by the demands of the workplace. 鈥淣ot having those little interactions every day is going to be one of those small things I鈥檓 going to miss, just saying hi to people,鈥� he noted.

Values to lead the way

Amireault believes the College鈥檚 Benedictine values serve as a remarkable foundation for everyday living and are profoundly reflected in the everyday life of the Saints community. 鈥淭he values we preach 鈥� hospitality, respect, community, stewardship, and love of learning 鈥� are not just words on a sign; they are embodied in our daily interactions,” he said. 鈥淵ou can see that every single day when you walk on campus; there’s a kind of friendly atmosphere.鈥�

From the friendships formed across campus to the values instilled by the Benedictine tradition, Amireault鈥檚 experiences at St. Scholastica taught him the significance of community, respect, and love of learning. 鈥淵ou see these values happening in your everyday lives,鈥� he reflected. 鈥淚 think if I continue just to stay true to my values, I鈥檓 going to be successful in the future.鈥�