Campus News

A Degree, Fifty Years in the Making: Pete Lentini '75 Completes His Juniata Journey

(Posted September 12, 2025)

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HUNTINGDON, Pa.—For 50 years, Pete Lentini carried with him a piece of unfinished business. A member of the Class of 1975 who left campus before completing his degree requirements, Lentini never let go of the idea that one day he might finish what he started. 

That moment arrived in true Juniata College fashion, as his capstone recital was revealed to be a surprise graduation ceremony. 

“Our core values include a commitment to building a strong community that emphasizes the value of curiosity and eagerness to learn,” said Provost Lauren Bowen as she welcomed the guests assembled in Rosenberger Auditorium. “We understand the value of collaboration. None of us go through this life alone, and it takes a team for us to pursue our passions. One of the things we care so much about is taking care of each other. This experience demonstrates all of that.” 

For decades, Lentini toyed with the idea of finishing his degree. “I probably thought about it when I first started seeing online courses on TV,” he said. “But it really hit me around this past Christmas. I thought, you know what, it’s time to find out how short on credits I was, and what do I need to do to get it? I didn’t know I was as close as I was.” 

Lentini spent four years on campus, even playing in the program’s storied 1973 Stagg Bowl, his picture still hanging on the wall of the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center. But academics took a backseat. “I came to play football and party, basically, in all honesty,” Lentini said. “Class didn’t get much attention.” 

At the urging of longtime friend and classmate Fred Wulczyn ’75 and with the help of faculty and staff, Lentini completed an independent study course focused on music and the accordion, his lifelong passion. At age 73, a business course—the field he had studied in the 1970s—didn’t hold much appeal. Instead, Lentini wanted to connect his degree with his passion: music. 

The program was designed by Jim Latten, professor of music, who worked closely with Lentini through weekly Zoom sessions and music theory lessons, while also guiding him through recital preparation and accordion history research. 

“I’ve learned as much from Pete as he has from me,” Latten shared. “Our conversations about acoustics, accordion performance, and theory were inspiring. It was a true collaboration, an example of what makes Juniata special.” 

The culmination of his work came during a special evening performance on campus, where Lentini shared the story of the accordion, performed alongside Latten and Phil Dunwoody, professor of psychology, and thanked those who supported his journey. Surrounded by friends, family, and classmates, he was met with one final surprise. 

Following his recital, Bowen and President Jim Troha took the stage to confer his degree officially. After Bowen formally presented Lentini as a degree candidate and, with a smile, Troha donned his ceremonial medallion and pronounced: 

“By the authority vested in me by the trustees of Juniata College, and upon them by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I now confer upon you the degree bachelor of arts with all the rights and privileges thereto pertain.” 

Asked what advice he’d give others who might be considering finishing their degree, Lentini’s answer is simple: “Get it done. Finish it. More important than anything, it closes the chapter. And closure is very important, you don’t want to leave things open.” 

For Lentini, the chapter that began in 1971 finally reached its joyful conclusion in 2025. “The more we know, the better we are,” he said. “Education is important. It makes us better.” 

This summer, at long last, Pete Lentini officially became what he always was in spirit: a proud member of Juniata’s Class of 1975. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.