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 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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