WATERVILLE -- H. Allen Ryan gave Thomas College's class of 2008 four pieces of advice at commencement Saturday afternoon.

Listen; find a mentor; team up and never forget the importance of ethics in business, said Ryan, former owner and president of PFG-NorthCenter Food Service Corp. in Augusta.

Ryan, a member of the Thomas College Board of Trustees and the commencement speaker Saturday, said that the old fashioned saying "your word is your bond" is still true.

"Without total honesty," said Ryan, "no true progress can be made or true value added."

Ryan, who also received an honorary doctorate in science and business administration, advised graduates to value the relationships they made in college and to keep in touch with their college and fellow graduates as they begin their careers.

Statistically, the vast majority of Thomas College graduates stay in Maine, he said.

Just as this year's graduates have changed Thomas, so they can also change Maine, he said.

"As you make your impact on the state .... work together to do great things," said Ryan.

A total of 145 students were expected to graduate at the 114th commencement in the Harold Alfond Athletic Center, including 98 undergraduates and 47 graduate degree candidates.

Speakers representing the day division, continuing education division and graduate school made remarks before classmates, family and friends.

"Congratulations to the class of 2008, after all, you are the ones who put in all the hours preparing for the real world," said Seth T. Marstaller of Hartford.

Marstaller, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree in management, represented the undergraduate-day division.

Marstaller said he was confident that Thomas had provided students with the tools they need to succeed.

He also shared memories of the four years he spent with classmates, a time that started the year the Red Sox won its first World Series in 86 years.

There was also the "flood of 2008" and a "very long night" some classmates spent at Champions, he said.

He thanked them for making the last four years the best he could have imagined and advised them, in the words of Dr. Seus, to "Be who you are and say how you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

Lynn M. Clark of Winslow, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, spoke for the continuing education division.

Clark said that when she went back to school, her youngest child had just turned 5 years old.

Attending college at that point in life meant coordinating schedules with her husband, fitting in classes and school work between her children's games and activities and working on assignments early Saturday morning when the rest of the house was asleep, said Clark.

It also meant setting an example for her children that hard work and learning are important, she said.

Maura Smith of Skowhegan spoke for the graduate division. Smith, who teaches at Madison High School, earned a master of science degree in education with a 4.0 average.

While they are excited to graduate, Maura said many of her fellow students are perhaps sorry to say good-bye to their professors, and that she herself was thinking of getting a second master's degree.

"Old graduate students never really graduate, they just keep renewing their parking passes," she said.

Smith asked her fellow graduates to take their new degrees and "help someone just because you can."

Alan Crowell -- 474-9534, Ext. 342

acrowell@centralmaine.com