WestConn Graduate Students Earn their Degrees

Western Connecticut State University in Danbury awarded about 165 graduate degrees Friday night, giving people a special reason to celebrate the end of the week.

Benjamin Fuller and Christopher Nott, both of Oakdale, were among the graduates. Fuller earned his degree in biology; Nott, in justice and law administration.

Degrees were awarded in nursing, education, counseling, teaching, writing, arts, justice, health, and business.

Keynote speaker Stephen F. Angel, chairman, president and CEO of Praxair Inc., headquartered in Danbury, gave students dozens of things to consider as they prepare to leave school and start working. Among them, he said, “Prepare, prepare, prepare.”

He said when he looks for an employee, he wants to see a record of accomplishment, the ability to overcome obstacles, a modest upbringing, an edge and intellectual curiosity.

“Don’t press that send button on your computer,” Angel said. “Walk on down the hall. Call them up. You’ll have a far richer and greater exchange face to face.”

Angel joined Praxair in 2001, and prior to that he worked as general manager of GE's power equipment business, managing eight business units and six joint ventures in four countries. He is a member of the Business Roundtable and of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum.

He said that in a job candidate, he is looking for a combination of self-confidence and humility. That balance is hard to find. He said he was told many times during his career about good employees, and in some cases he responded, “I wouldn’t know,” because the worker in question never spoke up for himself.

Sometimes the hardest boss a person has is the one who teaches the most, Angel said.

“Work with people who will push you out of your comfort zone,” Angel said. He said ask for and give feedback. He said learning this skill takes years to develop. “It’s a vital skill.”