Last night’s Hawaii Pacific University’s commencement exercises marked the beginning for 850 graduates and, for Chatt Wright, an end to 40 years with the school and 35 years as president of what is now Hawaii’s largest private university.

Wright was awarded the title president emeritus and received a standing ovation last night at the Waikiki Shell, where it was also announced that the governor and mayor had proclaimed it Chatt G. Wright Day.

The university graduated 850 students last night with associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees — the largest graduation in the school’s history.

Wright, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Africa who appreciated the diversity in Hawaii, brought a global perspective to the school by bringing students and faculty from all over the world.

"President Wright has helped us become citizens of the world," said John Kearns, vice president for academic affairs.

In his speech, Wright referred to his departure as stepping down "from the greatest job in the world: the presidency of Hawaii Pacific University." He told the graduating students: "Tonight we are not so different from one another. You are completing something that took brain power and time. So am I. You are ready to begin a new stage in your life. So am I."

Wright said he’s credited by some with turning a small downtown college in 1976 into a comprehensive university, but said it would take all night to name the many people who helped build it into what it is today.

A moment of silence was also held at the beginning of the ceremony in memory of three who died, including Kameron Steinhoff, an HPU basketball player who was critically injured in a skateboarding accident.