Lincoln College’s 150th Year, 148th commencement
Governor Bruce Rauner receives Honorary Doctorate

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[May 15, 2015]  LINCOLN - On Saturday afternoon it was a day of finishing, beginning, and firsts as 320 students of Lincoln College participated in the school's 148th Commencement Ceremony.

The doors to Jack Nutt Arena opened at 1 p.m. with a crowd already gathered outside waiting in line. The arena with seats on the floor, plus bleacher and balcony space will hold approximately 2,000 people. On Saturday it was filled. The ceremony was also simulcast to the Davidson-Sheffer Gymnasium for those who didn’t make it into the arena.

Promptly at 2 p.m. the processional began. As pianist Laurie Lewis played Pomp and Circumstance graduates marched into the arena followed by faculty, administration, board members, and other distinguished guests.

The invocation was delivered by Rev. Adam R. Quine of the First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, and Lincoln College President John Blackburn delivered welcoming remarks. Of note in this 150th Founding Year, the Presbyterian Church helped establish the college.

President Blackburn began, “Today we celebrate 320 students who are graduating. This is a day filled with pride, and relief, for parents and families those who love and support and have sustained these students over the course of their studies. It is entirely appropriate to recognize those families and parents.” He asked that all parents and family stand to be recognized.


He went on to recognize the administration, faculty and staff for their contributions to the success of the graduates. Next he acknowledged the Board of Trustees and the Trustee Emeriti. He also acknowledged two special guests; Dr. Beth Purvis, the Secretary of Education of the State of Illinois; Dr. Dave Gerlach, soon to be Lincoln College’s president.

Blackburn concluded by introducing the student speaker for the day, Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Emily Johnson of Lincoln. Johnson was graduating with an Associate of Arts degree and a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Lambda Chi Mu, and Honor Society. She is a recipient of the Layman Athletic Award, Safford and Betty Peacock Foundation Scholarship Award, and the Arthur and Amanda Bree Memorial Scholarship Award. She is a member of the Lady Lynx basketball team, the Lincoln College Chorale and Choir. She will continue her education at Illinois State University.

Johnson began her address talking about the definition of the word “Commencement” saying that the word means beginning or start, but for the students gathered in the arena, the day felt like an ending. She noted that while their time at Lincoln College was ending, the education was not over. Whether students play to go on to a four-year school or start their careers, each day of their lives is a learning experience.

She noted that all the students come from different places, different backgrounds, but they all now share one thing in common, a degree.

Johnson went on to talk about making decisions, saying that as a child her toughest decision was which color of crayon to use, but as she grew up the decisions became more difficult. She said that when the students graduated from high school, they may have been overwhelmed by the choices they would make. “Family members, friends, and teachers interrogated us. Where are you going to college? What is your major going to be? So, what do you want to do for the rest of your life?” Johnson said that for herself, this was frustrating because, as one who usually had a plan, this time, she had no idea what the answer to those questions were.

She said that for those who do have a plan, they should be prepared for unexpected circumstances that can change those plans. For those who are now leaving college, without a plan for the future, "It’s okay. If we all knew what we wanted, life would be pretty boring. It’s the choices we are given that excite us.”

She noted that making choices is driven by the desire to succeed in life, but that being human also means being imperfect and making mistakes. She said that mistakes promote learning and even in failure, there are choices -- to give up or to try harder.

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She noted famous basketball player Michael Jordon as an example. In high school, he did not make the varsity team his sophomore year. She recounted that Jordon was not always a success in his basketball career. She quoted the star, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost over 300 games. On 26 occasions, I have been entrusted to make the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” She encouraged her fellow students to be strong in making their decisions for the future and to not cheat themselves by taking the easy road.

Johnson moved on to talk about her decision to attend Lincoln College. Being from Lincoln, she said that she at first wasn’t certain, but found that staying home to attend Lincoln College had been a great move for her. She appreciated the opportunities she has had, the small classroom settings, and the personal interest faculty and staff took in each student. She said that her time at Lincoln College had been a unique college experience that produced memories that would last a lifetime.

In Johnson’s closing words to her fellow graduates she said, “Walk away from Lincoln College excited and inspired for the future. And wherever it takes you, never be afraid to make mistakes because sometimes making an honest mistake shapes us. At Lincoln College, we learned and lived together, and today we leave together.”

When Johnson had finished, Dr. Gigi Fansler, Vice-president of Academic Affairs, introduced Lincoln College Trustee Chair Robert Neal, who was the sponsor of this year’s Honorary Doctorate recipient, Illinois Governor Bruce V. Rauner.

Neal said the college was extremely proud to award the doctorate to the Governor. He spoke about Rauner as a self-made businessman who has personally lived the American dream. He recounted Rauner's college career at Dartmouth and Harvard. After college Rauner began working with Golder, Thoma and Cressey, a private equity firm. He became a partner in that firm which was later renamed as GTCR (Golder, Thoma, Cressey, Rauner). Neal said the Governor has generously supported education, hospitals, and community organizations.
 


Neal noted that in spite of his success, Rauner has not allowed it to change him. He drives an old van, loves his wife, children, and dogs. He rode his Harley-Davison motorcycle to Lincoln on Saturday and loves to fish. “He’s a guy you can like,” Neal said.

Neal then presented Gov. Rauner for an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree. President Blackburn and Dr. Fansler, conferred the degree with the placing of the Doctorate Hood.

Gov. Rauner then stood at the podium and delivered a brief speech to the Class of 2015.

After a special song presented by the Lincoln College Chorale, Dr. Fansler acknowledged the Academic Honors graduates asking each designation to stand and be recognized. This year there were 19 Cum Laude (3.5-3.69 GPA) graduates, 21 Magna Cum Laude (3.7-3.89 GPA), and 18 Summa Cum Laude (3.9 or higher GPA). There were also 45 graduates with Associate Degree Academic Honors (3.5-4.0 GPA).

Graduates were then called to the stage where they received their diplomas with congratulations from President Blackburn, Governor Rauner, and Trustee Robert Neal. When all the graduates had returned to their seats, Blackburn delivered the Conferring of Degrees. The graduates were asked to stand, and then to move their cap tassels from the right side of their face to left as official graduates in the Class of 2015.

The day ended with the chorale singing the Lincoln College Alma Mater and a benediction delivered by Rev. Quine.

[Nila Smith]

 

 

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