Ret. State Police Col. Foley urges WSU grads to `stay strong'.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Richard Duckett

WORCESTER - The largest-ever Worcester State University graduating class received bachelor's degrees during the school's 137th commencement exercises held at the DCU Center on Saturday.

So it was not too surprising that pride was in the air, both in the graduation speeches and in the cheers and applause that family members and friends gave to the record 1,019 graduates. If a lot of people in the packed hall at the DCU Center also seemed to know each other, that similarly held true for commencement speaker Thomas J. Foley and his familiarity with WSU. Mr. Foley, a Worcester native and retired colonel of the Massachusetts State Police, observed that his WSU connections include a son who is attending the university and his wife, sister, and numerous friends and relatives who are graduates.

But Mr. Foley also spent some time talking about someone who definitely was not at the DCU Center on Saturday - James J. "Whitey" Bulger.

Mr. Foley, a career officer with the Massachusetts State Police who rose to its highest ranking position from 2001-04, supervised an investigation into organized crime in New England focusing on the activities of Mr. Bulger and Stephen "the Rifleman" Flemmi. He received the U.S. Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service for his work in the investigation, and is the author of the book "Most Wanted: Pursuing Whitey Bulger, the Murderous Mob Chief the FBI Secretly Protected."

Mr. Foley said that for someone who grew up on Grafton Hill in Worcester, what he saw taking place with organized crime in Boston was an eye-opening experience. As the title of his book suggests, his work was not without frustrations. But Mr. Foley said the end result of the arrests of Mr. Flemmi and Mr. Bulger showed that "the system did work."

"Stay the course," Mr. Foley urged the WSU graduates. "It's hard, but you've got to make sure you stand strong."

WSU President Barry M. Maloney said that the class of 2013 has been a strong local presence. "Graduates, I could not be more proud of your academic achievements and your service to the community," he said. "This is a class that works hard, is engaged in scholarship, and gives back. This is a class that is changing the way the world works."

For her part, Taylor J. Overton, secretary of the WSU senior class that graduated Saturday, said "I am proud to be a part of this class." She also noted "I am the first Overton in my family to receive a college diploma, and it is a proud feeling."

Mr. Foley received an honorary degree, as did Dr. Mary K. Alexander - a former faculty member at WSU and founder of the Worcester Nursing Pipeline Consortium - in recognition of her work in nursing education. Worcester businessman, philanthropist and activist Allen W. Fletcher was presented with WSU's 2013 Community Service Award.

Contact Richard Duckett at rduckett@telegram.com

Worcester State University graduates:

Bachelor of Arts Ashland: Adam D. Siden Auburn: Woodrow G. Waters (C)Barre: Patricia C. Richardson Blackstone: Hillary J. Atstupenas (C), Richard E. Nerbonne Bolton: John Balco (M) Brookfield: Patrick M. Nelson Charlton: Amanda L. Dam (C), Jonathan J. Eastty, Kristin L. Kavorkian, Kara A. St. Francis, Bethany Walker (C) Clinton: Eric J. Burton, Kara A. Devaney (C), Christopher D. Lippmann, Marta A. Reyes Douglas: Melissa Gontijo (C), Andrea N. Nelson (C)East Brookfield: Aimee M. Lamoureux (M)Gardner: Angela J. Benoit, Kayla L. Casiello (M), Michael J. ColcordGrafton: Kayla M. Bracero, Zachary M. Dunn (C), Daniel R. OnoratoHolden: Lauren L. Bousquet, Bryana K. Dacri, Brian P. Dowd, Caroline C. Early (M), Joseph D. Nawn (C), Tatiana T. Seles (M)Hopedale: Jess T. DewittHudson: Matthew S. CadiganLeicester: Christine K. Begin (M), Timothy Erickson, Ashley E. Hare (C), Elizabeth A. Marc-Aurele (M), Stephanie L. Parretti, Joshua D. Smaltz (C)Leominster: Ryan S. Connor (M), Chad C. Lawrence Lunenburg: Briana L. MacMillan (C), Caitlyn A. Mackenna Mendon: Danielle A. Caughey (M), Aisha S. MondleyMilford: Andrew J. Garozzo (C)Millbury: Rachel A. Condon (C), Alicia Lacroix, Caitlin M. Spain North Brookfield: Paulius Balciunas, Nicholas C. WoodNorthboro: Erika F. Anderson, Raja N. Kota, John M. Reardon (M), Nikole Vetter Oakham: Lacey A. MelansonOrange: Ashley E. Arseneau, Seth ManuelOxford: Charlene A. Dutting, Julianne K. Hammond, Lauren M. Hassett (C), Laura A. Legere Palmer: Molly L. Brunault (C), Nicholas A. Chausse Paxton: Courteney T. BlaisPrinceton: Brenna E. Connors (M) Putnam, CT: Lynnette M. Nieves Velazquez Rochdale: Melissa C. Brennan, Todd S. Peloquin (C)Rutland: Nicholas K. Fitton, Katelyn M. MettervilleShrewsbury: Matthew A. Amdur (M), Caitlyn J. Coates, Scott M. Daniels, Charles E. Gasdaska South...