RADFORD – Listen to your heart when making life choices and believe you can succeed against all odds was the message delivered Saturday to graduating seniors at Radford University.

President Penelope W. Kyle (right) conferred degrees on nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students at its 93rd commencement held on RU's Moffett Field.

Joann Donnellan, a 1986 RU graduate and media relations director for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, delivered the keynote address and told the graduating class that success in life comes through following your heart and your passions.

"Today I have a whole new view of myself and my talents because I listened to my heart and followed my passions," Donnellan said. "My point in telling you this is because I want you to keep not only your mind open, but your heart open when you explore job opportunities.”

Donnellan is the architect behind the national AMBER Alert program which has helped recover more than 250 missing children since the program's inception.

Before going to work with the center, Donnellan served more than three years as a senior producer for the FOX TV show "America's Most Wanted." She has worked as a producer and assignment editor at numerous TV stations in New York, Baltimore and Washington D.C., and has worked as an associate producer on "Inside Edition."

Donnellan (at left) told RU graduates she thought she would be in the TV business throughout her career, but after nine years, she left her job and traveled around the world for what turned out to be a life-changing experience. The highlight of the year long trip, she said was working at Mother Teresa's orphanage, which cares for more than 300 children, many with severe disabilities.

The experience, she said, set the stage for the next path in her life. "By the time I got home, I decided I wanted to work on children's issues," Donnellan said. Soon thereafter she began working on "America's Most Wanted" as a producer for segments about missing children. Four years later, she was offered a position with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

"Again, I listened to my heart and took the job," Donnellan said. It was the best decision I ever made because it transitioned me out of TV and unlocked new skills I didn't realize I had or even enjoyed doing."

Before Donnellan's speech, Kyle congratulated the class of 2006. "We are as proud of them as if they were our own children, and we believe they are well prepared for what lies ahead," Kyle said.

Keeping with tradition of spring commencement, RU announced the recipients of the university’s distinguished service awards for faculty and staff (see news release for more):

• The Donald N. Dedmon Professorial Award -- Francis Webster, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• The Distinguished Creative Scholar Award -- Thomas Pierce, Professor of Psychology
• The Distinguished Service Award -- Gary Ellerman, Professor of Education
• The Anna Lee Stewart Award for Contributions to Faculty Development – Janet Hahn, Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Grant Management