More than degrees conferred at Lincoln College commencement

Judge James A. Knecht: Weekend passes put the meaning in life

'Brave' director Brenda Chapman: Do what you love

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[May 06, 2013]  While it was a first for Lincoln College President John Blackburn, on Saturday afternoon he opened by announcing that it was the college's 146th consecutive commencement. One hundred seventy-three students were graduating, one with a Baccalaureate of Arts in theater and the rest with associate degrees in arts or sciences.

In addition, two outstanding graduates of Lincoln College were accorded honorary degrees. Brenda Chapman and James Knecht expressed their profound affection for the school and the outstanding preparation they were accorded to follow their dreams after graduation. Each shared their most sage advice with the awaiting new grads.

Judge Knecht received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the school. His sponsor, William Gossett, Lincoln College trustee emeritus, read a list that continued for several minutes, telling of Knecht's accomplishments. In addition to his duties as a judge of the Illinois 4th District Appellate Court, Knecht has given his time to domestic violence prevention, teaching at Illinois State University and the University of Illinois.

Knecht's remarks during his presentation harkened back to an incident he and a friend shared during their student days. While hitchhiking through Illinois to get to a summer job, they were given a ride by a very unusual couple. The ride ended in Jacksonville, where the driver of the car stepped out and entered the Jacksonville Central Hospital for the Insane. His wife grinned at the young men and said her husband had just been out on a weekend pass. Knecht and his friend were out of the car as quickly as possible after thanking their benefactors. Knecht said that later, upon reflecting on the incident, he came to the conclusion that he had been given a profound, albeit inadvertent, bit of advice.

He said the idea of "a weekend pass" has stayed with him, and it is what has given meaning to his life. Knecht said we all need a weekend pass at times, really an idea of something that can renew us as we pass through the sometimes stressful journey of life. His advice was for each graduate, actually the entire assemblage, to develop their own weekend pass. For Knecht, it is his extended family; his wife of 47 years, Ruth; his children and grandchildren. His weekend pass is involvement in the activities that interest his family.

"We all need a weekend pass, something that each of us can develop that takes us away from our everyday lives," he said.

He concluded his remarks by saying: "It is important to plan for the future upon graduation, but don't rush. We don't want to miss today while planning for tomorrow."

Lincoln College trustee Susan Hoblit sponsored Brenda Chapmen to receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Chapman has been everywhere in Lincoln this weekend. Lincoln Mayor Keith Snyder and the city council presented her with a resolution on Friday declaring this "Brenda Chapman Weekend." She is a Lincoln College grad from the Class of 1982 with a degree in art.

Chapman remarked how nervous she was when she first approached the podium to give her presentation. This from the woman who received the Academy Award three months ago for the movie "Brave," which she directed.

Making light of the intermittent television reception that left her time to do something creative, Chapman said, "I grew up in Beason, and reading and drawing soon became a passion for me."

After graduating from Lincoln High School, she enrolled in Lincoln College to continue her education with the focus on art.

"I knew I always wanted to draw, and Lincoln College was a wonderful experience for me," she said. "Albert Wong was one of the dedicated art professors. He not only taught art, but instilled a self-confidence in me that has been vital to my success."

After graduation, she was at loose ends and applied to the California Institute of Arts to complete her education. Her initial application was rejected, not for lack of talent, but because her portfolio was not up to the school's standards. This moment in Chapman's life was profound, because she was determined to reach her goal as a professional artist, specifically in animation.

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"I stayed in Lincoln for two years after graduation, working at service jobs to earn money for college," she said.

Chapman also returned to Lincoln College as a part-time student taking art classes. The professors took her passion for animation and gave her the extra instruction she needed. Chapman related how art professor Larry Thomas insisted she take a dance class to understand how people moved, and she then transferred this new understanding to animation. Chapman was effusive in her praise to her Lincoln College professors and their belief in her.

The next time she applied to Cal Arts, with her additional LC "postgrad" instruction, she was admitted. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Chapman's charge to the new LC grads was to never give up on their dreams.

"Your graduation today is the beginning, not the end of your education. Never accept failure. Learn from it and press on. Follow your passion," she said.

Chapman related that her stepfather liked to say he never worked a day in his life. He was a farmer and loved his chosen field so much that it was a pleasure for him to farm. It never seemed like work. "I have always tried to follow his attitude," she said.

The commencement was on campus in the Jack Nutt Arena in the Lincoln Center. The arena was filled to capacity an hour before the opening ceremonies.

The candidates for degrees, college trustees and professors filed into the arena, accompanied by the piano strains of "Pomp and Circumstance," played by LC Professor Cynthia Fox.

Once the procession was in place, Lincoln College President Blackburn called upon Michael Coley, an LC student and minister, to present the invocation.

Blackburn marked the day as a special celebration of the hard work and dedication of the students and the commitment of the professors and staff at the college to make the student experience a fulfilling one, an experience that would prepare the graduates for the next journey in their lives.

Lincoln resident Taylor Perry presented the graduating student address to the gathering. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average at LC, has been on the cheerleading team and served as a student ambassador. Upon graduation, she will enroll in St. Francis Medical Center School of Nursing in Peoria, with the goal of earning a master's degree in nursing in order to teach.

Perry reflected on her time at Lincoln College, especially the nurturing environment fostered by the professors.

"I had an outstanding student experience," she said. "My roommates and teammates have become lifelong friends."

The culmination of the commencement was at hand. Blackburn welcomed the graduating students individually onto the stage to hand them their diplomas. The excitement in the arena was electric.

After a stirring rendition of "Homeland" by the Lincoln College Chorale, under the direction of Cynthia Fox, the new graduates then filed out of the arena to be greeted by ecstatic family and friends, some with bouquets of flowers. Families were laughing and in some cases shedding tears of joy all at the same time.

After a reception in the space that will soon become the new site of the Lincoln Heritage Museum, the students were out the door and traveling to their new lives as Lincoln College graduates.

[By CURT FOX]

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