"I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."
After starting in 1987 at Humboldt State University in California, 20 other schools signed on to the Graduate Pledge. Participation dwindled until Manchester College took over nationwide organizing duties in 1996-97. Since then, over 100 schools, from Eastern Mennonite University to Harvard University, have been added to the Graduation Pledge Alliance list. Goshen College has participated since 1997.
The consequences of our occupations are profound. As we graduates make the transition from academia to the “real” world of working and paying bills, habits and patterns will be formed that will define our lives for many years. If we make a commitment now—while we are in the process of establishing our routines—to be socially responsible citizens and workers, we can build a strong moral foundation that will help guide our future decisions. We have a responsibility to ensure that our livelihoods are sustainable. Pursuing financial stability is necessary, but we must do it in a manner that is both environmentally sound and socially just.
Our jobs reflect our faith and values—and through them we have the power and ability to enact positive change. We can choose to work toward a world that is ecologically viable for the long term, and where wealth and power are distributed in such a way that everyone’s essential needs are met.
The graduation pledge symbolizes a commitment to responsibility. It is a reminder for us to be aware of the implications of our life decisions. There is no accountability mechanism beyond individual effort to fulfill the pledge—it is up to those who sign the pledge to carry it out.
Deb Rhizal 2001 GC graduate and Graduation Pledge committee member at that time, says this pledge is vital and needs to be invigorated, resurfaced, and carried on.
Amy Thut, 2000 GC signor, echoed that by saying “the pledge helped me pause and consider how I would carry my values and ideals into future work setting.”
“The pledge helps educate and motivate students to contribute to a better world, and can be a focal point for other types of consciousness raising both on and off campus. Think of the impact if even a significant minority of the one million college graduates each year signed and carried out the Pledge.” (www.peace.ca)
For more information check out their website at http://www.graduationpledge.org/
For more information about the Graduation Pledge at Goshen College contact pauldsgoshen.edu
2005 Signers
Sarah Elizabeth Arnold
Kendra Bamseyer
John Blount
Katie Boyts
Brett Buller
Angie Caskey
Ventisha Conolly
John Eicher
Steven Eigsti
Ben Friesen
Justin Gillette
Mark Gingerich
Nick Gingerich
Chris Gingerich
Andy Graber
Alisa Hartzler
Emily Haury
Alma Hernandez
Andrew Histand
Shanda Hochstetler
Matthew Hochstetler
Amanda Hooley
Daniel Horst
Joy Houser
Sean Kauffman
Philip Kendall
Jaron Kennel
Daniel King
Tristan King
Brianne Konaldson
Fitsum Mekonnen
Chris Meyer
Eric Meyer
Kenan Miller
Martha Miller
Peter Moyer
Katie O'Hara
Saulo Padilla
Keith Paul
Danielle Reimer
Rachel Reimer
Laura Rheinheimer
Adam Roth
Jason Schmucker
Katie Showalter
Erin Sigler
Rachel Slatter
Tom Stahly
Beth Steider
Lamont Steiner
Ben Steininger
Daniel Stutzman
Matt Troyer
Shu Tu
Samuel Tyx
Rachel Webster
Robin Wenger
Hanna Yesuf
Nick Yoder
Sara Yoder
Brandon Yoder
2006 Signers
John Thomas
Melody Huffman
James Graber
Glenn Schumacher
Nick Loewen
Nick McCormick
Sarah Valatka
Dominique Burgunder-Johnson
Jennifer Rupp
Leona Walicova
Nathan Litwiller
Yonathan Shibru
Andrea Wiens
Joanne Gallardo
Mandi Leer
Leah Roggie
Laura Hershberger
Katie Bender
Adam Friesen
Marisa Garcia
Lindsay Nance
Steven Hage
Katrina Maust
Andrew Weber
Layne Wyse
Isaiah Goertz
Kristin Yoder
Katrina Dyck
Matt Baoman
Marcos Stotzfus
Teresa Bartal
Ben Herendeen
Craig Mast
Lena Slusher
Kristin Walker
Trisha Hostetter
Aaron Aeschliman
Rebecca Johnson
Travis Yutzy
Vanessa Mishler
Elizabeth Heiks
Adrienne Landis
Hannah Graber
Andy Krabill
Anne Penner
Jesse Smith
Emily Shirk
Amanda Zimmerman
Meryl Roth
Myra Karina
Elizabeth Miller
Adam Orrick
Kimberlee Rohrer
Nicole Miazgowicz
Levi Kropf
Doug Stuckey
Joseph Combs
Adele Liechty
Sarah Rohrer
Joe Shetler
2007 Signers
Miranda Parrish
Scott Lehman
Sarah Swartzendruber
Joel Miller
Minerva Andriotis
David Glick
Anne Yoder
Maryan Mohamed
Laura Landis
Suzana Yoder
Sarah Toth
Megan Sohan
Hannah Meyers
Laurel Mast
Jessica Kulp
Ashley Watther
Hannah Gingerich
Jesse Johnson
Rachel Derstine
Kathryn Stutzman
Sarah Thiessen
Rachel Nofziger
Katie Schreck
Holly Ratliff
Kirsten Hartig
Emily Stuckey
Kristen Luginbuhl
Cristina Rodriguez-Polit
Johnny Amazan
Kristine Bowman
Jesse Woodworth
Brandon Kurtz
Rachel Hershberger
Jonny West
Karla M. Stauffer
Elizabeth Martin
Emily R. Yoder
Erin Gotwals
Daenielle John
Joel Coyley
Crhissy Gosteli
Michael Perkada
Travis Weaver
Katherine Meyer
Melanie Histand
Lydia Weiser
Brian Swartzendruber
Jocie Fong
Larua Neufeld
Cecelea Bontrager
Kyle M. Yoder
Hilary Mayher
Erin Boers
Rachel Slentz
Maria Stutzman
Andy Horst
Lucas Bishop
Mary Jo Martin
Brian Schlabach
Marelby Mosqueri
Rozo Tadier
Nick Miller
Shihoko Kanemoto
