More than 500 students graduated from William Woods University and Westminster College on Saturday.
William Woods held its commencement ceremony first at 10 a.m. inside Cutlip Auditorium. The traditional Ivy Ceremony was moved inside the auditorium due to rain.
The university graduated more than 250 students who earned associate of arts, bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of social work, master of business administration, master of education, education specialist and doctor of education degrees.
Gina Loudon, a 1990 William Woods graduate, gave the commencement address. Loudon, an author, anchor, columnist, talk-show host and news commentator, spoke about being a mother to her adopted son, Samuel, who has special needs. She said that even through his non-verbal communication, he teaches her the most about who she is. Loudon also spoke about freedom and how each American is accountable to keep the country free.
"Freedom is on me and it's on you," she said.
William Woods President Jahnae Barnett concluded the ceremony with words of wisdom, or the 20 things she would tell her 20-something self. Her parting thoughts included: "Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle or end," "Live life to express, not impress," "When you let go of what is not working, you will make room for what is," and "The two things that define you are patience when you have nothing and attitude when you have everything."
Westminster College held its graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. inside Champ Auditorium. There were a total of 204 students who earned diplomas, with 195 graduates who decided to walk during Westminster's commencement ceremony.
The college honored two of its graduating seniors with the Outstanding Senior Award. Lindsey Dennis, an early childhood and elementary education major from Little Rock, Arkansas, was awarded the honor. Dennis was a member of the Skulls of Seven (the college's elite society for selected students), Honor Commission, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, the education honor society Kappa Delta Pi and Order of Omega Honor Society, which is comprised of the top five percent of Greek leaders on campus.
Dennis was also the president of Student Ambassadors and seminar mentor. She will serve as the young trustee of the Westminster Board of Trustees for the next two years.
Joseph Munyambanza, a biochemistry major from Hoima in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was also awarded the Outstanding Senior Award.
"His leadership has focused beyond the campus and the local community," Jamie Dillon Oestreich, a member of the Westminster College Alumni Council who presented the awards, said. "He has been on the world stage since a young age and brought his passion for leadership to Westminster College as a MasterCard Foundation Scholar from the African Leadership Academy.
"As early as 2005, he and five other students formed the Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and Sudan International Youth Organization. Between 2005 and 2007, he piloted tutoring programs that helped more than 60 students complete primary school."
Munyambanza previously spoke at the Clinton Global Initiative University and the MasterCard national event in the nation's capitol. In 2013, he was named to the "Top 99 Under 33 List" by the Diplomatic Courier for his foreign policy leadership. He was also one of the 2013 Global Citizen Award winners, a distinction given by the Global Poverty Project in partnership with the United Nations.
"He was one of 18 people chosen to serve as advisors on international education to the United States Secretary General and Gordon Brown, the U.N. Special Envoy on Global Education," Oestreich said.
Business professor Bill Carner was given the Patricia Klein Liebling Parents Association Faculty Award and Dr. Bruce Brookby, 1968 Westminster College graduate, was given an honorary degree.
As what seemed to be a final farewell, retiring Westminster College President Barney Forsythe gave the commencement address.
"I cannot begin to tell you how honored and humbled I am to have been invited to deliver the 2015 commencement address, particularly when I think of the distinguished leader from all walks of life who have addressed past graduating classes," Forsythe said. "My thanks to this great class for including me in your celebration.
"I appreciate this public opportunity to say to the entire Westminster community - the Blue Jay Nation - what a privilege it has been to lead, to serve and to learn with you during the past decade."
Forsythe made sure to take the attention off of himself and gives advice to the graduating students.
"Although today is a commencement of sorts for Jane (my wife) and me, on the cusp of a new phase of our life together, today is about you: the graduating class of 2015. Today is your new beginning," Forsythe said. "What are you feeling right now? I hop you have a sense of significant accomplishment, you made it!"
In his address, Forsythe took a moment to talk about the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the sculpture, Breakthrough, that stands on Westminster's campus. The piece of art was created by Winston Churchill's granddaughter, Edwina Sandys.
"What does the Berlin Wall stand for? Recall that the Berlin Wall was built to keep the East German people from traveling to the west, and it was part of a larger effort to keep western ideas flowing east. The Wall was a manifestation of oppression; it was a sober and daily reminder of what it means to live in a closed society that seeks to control every aspect of life in order to provide social, economic and political stability that protects the power and privilege of a few," Forsythe said. "What does the Breakthrough stand for? Just the opposite of what the Wall means. Edwina Sandys' work of art stands for freedom and openness, interconnectedness and progress. It reminds us that while policies and politics mattered, it was ultimately normal folks who broke through and brought down the Wall."
Before they could receive their diplomas, Forsythe asked the students five multiple-part questions.
- "Have you learned that you can make a difference, just as all those men and women who contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall made a difference? Do you now understand that you don't have to be in a formal position to step up, although if you are, the expectations are higher?"
- "Have you learned that you cannot make a significant change by yourself? Think about how many people it took to bring down the Wall. For you, is leadership now about 'we not me.' Have you learned to surround yourself with people of sound judgment, good will and a passion for excellence?"
- "Have you learned that values matter?"
- "Have you learned to combine ideas and action? Critical thinking is the hallmark of a liberal arts education. Have you learned to think before you act? But, have you also experienced the danger of thinking a problem to death and thus missing an opportunity to make a positive impact? Are you open to the notion that ideas and action go hand-in-hand, and as a result, do you now understand the importance of learning while doing?"
- "Finally, because change is constant and it is both hard and exciting, have you developed the courage to embrace the possibilities, take some risks, yes, even fail, yet face change with confidence? Do you have the grit, the resolve to face the Monday morning quarterbacks and nay-sayers in the stands who will always second guess you or question your motives? I've seen it in many of you."
"If you answered 'yes' to these questions, you are ready for the Breakthrough world that waits for you beyond the Columns. Leadership, service, character, confidence born of competence and courage will all be required of you, and these are the important outcomes of your Westminster education ... The Breakthrough world beyond the Columns desperately needs you. It needs your energy and your passion for good; it yearns for your character and intelligence; it demands your creativity and your courage to act," Forsythe said. "I can promise you it won't be easy, but it will certainly be rewarding. So, go forth from this place and make a difference, not to burnish your resume but to build your character and make life better for others."