Wilmington, DE – Goldey-Beacom College (GBC) held its 138th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 9, 2025, on the GBC campus in one ceremony with undergraduate students commencing first, followed by graduate and doctoral students next. A combined total of 329 students received degrees representing 14 states and 40 nations.
In a speech that was both heartfelt and candid, E. Thomas Harvey III, Chairman and CEO of Harvey Hanna & Associates, delivered the keynote address to the Goldey-Beacom College Class of 2025.
Preceding the commencement ceremony, President Colleen Perry Keith presented Harvey with an honorary Doctor of Business Administration Degree. The honor has been formally approved by the Goldey-Beacom College Honorary Degree Committee with all appropriate honors, rights, privileges and responsibilities. Harvey’s father, E. Thomas Harvey II was awarded this same honorary doctorate 36 years ago, in 1989.
A lifelong Delawarean, Harvey offered graduates practical, hard-earned wisdom from a lifetime of entrepreneurial success and centered his remarks on three key principles he believes are essential to building a meaningful and successful career:
- Ask the Next Question – Encouraging graduates to dig deeper and never settle for surface-level understanding, Harvey stressed the importance of curiosity and critical thinking in both business and life. “Don’t be afraid to challenge assumptions,” he advised. “The right question can change everything.”
- Integrity Above All – “Be someone who counts,” Harvey said. “Live guided by truth and accuracy—it’s the foundation of everything.” He urged students to be their best selves, noting that integrity is central to both personal fulfillment and professional success.
- Show Up Ready to Work – Success, he emphasized, doesn’t come from simply showing up. It’s earned through preparedness, effort, and perseverance. “Treat every challenge like a competition you’re ready to win,” he said. “Put your best effort forward—every single day.”
Harvey closed his remarks with a reminder to lead with confidence and character, and to make every handshake—and every opportunity—count.
Following the ceremony, the newly honored Dr. Harvey said, “Goldey-Beacom is a school for the working class American. That is who I am, and I hope the grads heard something they will find constructive for themselves and for their careers. They graduated – now they need to believe in themselves and go show the world who they are and who they can be.”
As a transformative force in the region, Harvey’s visionary leadership has reshaped the commercial and industrial landscape of Delaware, most notably through the redevelopment of the former General Motors Wilmington Assembly Plant into a cutting-edge Amazon Fulfillment Center employing over 1,500 people.
His impact extends statewide from the award-winning Lighthouse Cove Resort in Dewey Beach to a $100 million hotel and hospitality portfolio through TKo Hospitality Management. A pioneer in sustainable business practices, Harvey also built and merged a suite of waste management companies into what became USA Waste Services, setting the standard for green innovation in the industry.
Beyond business, Harvey has been a dedicated community leader, chairing numerous nonprofit boards. He is a proud graduate of Conrad High School and the University of Delaware, and lives in Centerville and Rehoboth Beach with his wife, Robin, and their family. His legacy of leadership, service and innovation embodies the values we strive to instill in our graduates.
Founded in 1886, Goldey-Beacom College has approximately 1,300 students enrolled from 29 states and 65 nations. The College offers 48 degree options in its graduate and undergraduate programs with majors in psychology, economics, criminal justice, communication & media, human services, English, and all areas of business, including accounting, business administration, entrepreneurship and finance.
The College began accepting students into three new degree programs in spring 2024: Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, Master of Science in Human Resource Management, and an MBA Major in Human Resource Management. The College also began offering fully online options for students in the following degree programs: MBA Analytical Track (STEM-designated), traditional MBA program concentration areas, and the MS in Human Resource Management. Additionally, the College offers 21 certificate programs.
The College is committed to connecting its graduates with careers in their respective fields. For over a decade, the College has achieved a 90% placement rate for graduates. Goldey-Beacom College is in Pike Creek Valley, a suburb of Wilmington, Delaware. The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
