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 Wilson is a single mom, Chicago native, and a 2008
graduate of Champaign Central High School. Wilson shared her story
with her classmates. After putting her son to bed one night, Wilson
realized, “(I) couldn’t give him knowledge and opportunities that I
don’t have access to or the means to reach.”
Without a blueprint of how to reach her goals she walked into the
admissions office at Lincoln College and the rest, as they say, is
history.
Wilson is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s All
American Team and the first in her family to graduate from college.
To be a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society a student must,
“demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined
with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the
classroom to benefit society. She plans to attend Southern Illinois
University in Carbondale to pursue a Master’s Degree in social work.
Wilson concluded her speech by saying to her fellow graduates,
“Purpose is what makes your story unique. We now have the power to
influence and inspire people that are a mirror reflection of
ourselves.”
Following the theme of going above and beyond for society, three
honorary degrees were bestowed upon distinguished guests, each
conferring their own words of encouragement to the graduates:
Zachary T. Fardon, the former U.S. Attorney for the Northern
District of Illinois received the honorary Doctor of Laws; Paul R.
Tetreault, director of Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. received
the Doctor of Fine Arts; and Dara Torres, a five-time Olympian and
12-time medalist in swimming received the Doctor of Humane Letters.
Go Out and Do Something
Tetreault was the first to share his story. In high school he was
more concerned with what was going on in the theatre department than
academics. He graduated from high school, but barely. His college
career started with a degree in business because that is what he
thought he was supposed to do, but he was not happy with that
decision. He was encouraged to switch majors to theatre and he has
not stopped acting, writing, and directing. Because of his success
in college his attitude about education has changed and he
challenged the graduates to “never stop learning,” telling them, “I
try to learn something new every day.”
With 750,000 visitors to the Ford Theatre every year he tries to
bring history and Abraham Lincoln to life for everyone who visits.
Over half of the visitors are young people and “they are the future.
That’s where there is hope.”
His encouragement to the students was this, “After today you will
all go out and be teachers and mentors and inspire people. This is
the beginning. Go out and do something. Do something that others
said you couldn’t do. Do something for yourself. Do something that
makes you proud. Do something that makes your family proud. Be
brave, take risks, grab opportunities, and don’t forget to have
fun.”
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Find a Balance
Students heard from Dara Torres, “The great thing that college
teaches you is how to find a balance between classes, your social
life, and other things you have going on in your life.”
Torres story of
balance, of course, was about swimming. She quit swimming three
times in her career but came back each time because of her
competitive spirit and the desire to be better than she was
before.
While pregnant with her daughter she got in the pool for
exercise, but was soon persuaded to train for another Olympics.
She would be the oldest U.S. female swimmer and the only swimmer
to compete in five Olympics. When she contacted her coach he
told her, “Sure” (he would coach), and “Aren’t you too old to
compete?” That was what she needed to light a fire under her.
Dara now had to balance her marriage, a new baby, a swim
schedule, and a dream to compete again.
She learned through
this process, “You don’t become a great success by yourself. There
are always people to help you and it’s important to be aware of that
and never take them for granted.”
Dara competed in the 2008 Olympics bringing home more medals,
missing the Gold Medal in the 50 meter freestyle by 1/100 of a
second. She thought that would haunt her forever but as she reflects
she realizes, “I won a silver medal in the Olympics.”
With that success made clear, she concluded with a quote by Eleanor
Roosevelt, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of
your dreams.”
See the article "Success in this life" for message delivered by
keynote speaker Zachary T. Fardon, the former U.S. Attorney for the
Northern District of Illinois.
Degrees conferred on
this day included bachelor and associate degrees in the following
areas of study:
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Bachelor of
Arts:
Liberal Arts,
Jazz Studies,
and Theatre
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Bachelor of
Science:
Criminal Justice Studies,
Health Services Administration,
and Sport Management
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Bachelor of
Business
Administration: Business Management
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Bachelor of
General Studies
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Bachelor of
Applied Management
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Bachelor of
Applied Science: Organizational Leadership
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Associate of
Arts
-
Associate of
Science
After “Lincoln College
Alma Mater” sung by the Lincoln College Chorale. A benediction by
Pastor Ron Otto sent the graduating class of Lincoln College 2017 on
their way to begin another chapter of their story “with boldness,
wisdom, and happiness; to walk into the future with courage and hope
and love.”
For those who missed attending or want to relive the LC Commencement
Ceremony it can be found on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbK5v5ZYCJU.
[Lisa Ramlow]
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