Graduates urged to distinguish themselves

From staff reports

Tracy Tynette Eure, of Eure, gets a final hug from a Chowan University professor May 10 as she waits in line to ring the bell. Eure received a bachelor of science degree in graphic communications and an associates degree in printing production. and Imaging Technology.

Chowan University photo

N.C. Baptist schools are awarding degrees to almost 4,000 graduates at ceremonies across the state this month.

Gardner-Webb University

A total of 777 students earned degrees May 9-10 at Gardner-Webb University. On May 9, 108 nursing students were honored, while on the morning of May 10, 451 undergraduate degrees were conferred. During a ceremony that afternoon, all graduate degree students were awarded their diplomas.

Larissa L. Herda, president, chairman and CEO of Time Warner Telecom, was a featured speaker at Gardner-Webb's 2008 commencement exercises.

Herda shared her thoughts on values, leadership and life with the graduates in the Saturday morning ceremony. "This is a good time for reflection and to think about your purpose/mission in life and your personal values and how you will apply those in all aspects of your life," she said. "And be prepared for your perspective on these things to change as you experience life, as you change and grow."

Herda said that earning a college degree is something only a small percentage of the world's population could ever hope to accomplish.

"But this is not what is going to distinguish you in this world," she said. "It is the person that you are, your character, your values, how you live your life that really matter."

The graduates will distinguish themselves by looking for opportunity in the challenges and difficulties they face, Herda said.

"Look for an opportunity to make a difference, be unique, and provide leadership and turn even the most adverse situations to your advantage," she said.

Other speakers were Jennifer Turner Smith, a distinguished and honored nurse and coordinator of the Chest Pain Center at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, and two doctoral candidates, Jeffrey Church of Lenoir, and Christopher C. Law of Charlotte.

Campbell University

A total of 416 undergraduate degrees were conferred under threatening skies at Campbell University's spring commencement exercises on May 12. Three hundred thirty-seven students received graduate and professional degrees at hooding ceremonies held May 10-11, bringing the total number of degrees conferred to 753.

N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, a 1981 graduate of the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, spoke about "change" and "personal values" in her commencement address.

"Thirty years ago, Campbell provided me with a world class education in a Christian environment," Marshall said. "Through visionary leadership and hard work, many miracles have occurred on this campus - the establishment of a law school, a school of business, a school of pharmacy and a divinity school. Campbell University's reputation as a school of miracles extends halfway around the world to Malaysia. And I consider myself one of those miracles."

Leaders in pharmacy, business, law, education and religion gave keynote addresses at five hooding ceremonies held throughout the weekend.

Wingate University

More than 4,000 faculty, students and guests packed Wingate University's academic quad on May 10 as 429 students in the class of 2008 received their diplomas in one of the largest commencement ceremonies in the university's history.

Degrees awarded to students included the charter class in the master of arts in education - educational leadership received. The popular new program introduced one and a half years ago is designed to train teachers to become future administrators and principals.

North Carolina's noted columnist and talk show host D.G. Martin delivered the commencement address entitled "Writing Your Speech." Martin is host of UNC-TV's "Bookwatch" literary series and his column appears regularly in the Chapel Hill News and Our State Magazine.

Martin asked students to think about what wisdom they would share if they had to give their own graduation speech or last lecture. "If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?"

He asked the students to write down their thoughts on why they've been chosen to do what they do, why it is important to them and what they've learned that will help others.

Mars Hill College

At Mars Hill College's commencement exercises May 10, college president Dan Lunsford handed out 140 degrees.

Commencement addresses were given by graduating seniors Julian Rashaun Cuthbertson of Charlotte, who was chosen by the Student Government Association as student of the year; Ryan Carl Hubbard of Kingsport, Tenn., who served as the president of the student government for 2007-08; and Judy Cheryl Rice Rhodes of Asheville, a graduate in the Adult ACCESS (Accelerated Credit/Continuing Education/Summer School) program.

Cuthbertson, a business administration major, told the graduates it was time for them to make their "third name." He said the first two names were given to them at birth. College graduation marks the end of a time of preparation, during which graduates receive the knowledge and the skills to, "make that third name, that will make our family and friends proud."

Rhodes said the completion of a degree is something for which the graduates have waited years, or even decades to accomplish. At graduation, the graduates owed a debt of gratitude to all the people who had inspired them in obtaining their education. The people graduates could thank include family friends, teachers, "and for some of us, our children," she said.

ACCESS students tend to be uncompromising in their college work ethic, she said, leaving traditional students to often wonder aloud why they feel the need to work so hard. "The reason we are so dedicated is because our education is something we truly value as a gift that only we can give to ourselves," she said

Hubbard, a biology major, is also a certified nurse's assistant (CNA). He said he had learned much from his years at Mars Hill. But he had also gained wisdom from an elderly man for whom he cares as a CNA. "There are two main lessons I'm taking away," Hubbard said. "First, it isn't that hard. Life, school, work, none of it is as difficult as we make it. Secondly, whatever you do, big or small, do it with care and do it with purpose."

Chowan University

Chowan University welcomed its newest 95 alumni during commencement ceremonies May 10 on the Campus Green. James P. Cain, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark, served as the 2008 Commencement speaker.

Continuing a tradition, graduates proceeded to the Susan Parker Kerr Gazebo to ring the bell located there immediately following the ceremony.

Meredith College

At Meredith College, 275 members of the Class of 2008 completed degrees in May.

Betty Ray McCain, who was secretary of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources from 1993-2001, served as speaker. In a speech filled with humor, McCain offered a list of "great expectations" for the graduates, including a charge to be caring and compassionate, to continue learning for a lifetime, and to have loyalty.

McCain asked graduates to "really believe in something, and work hard on it." Other "great expectations" were to "dare to change and to take necessary risks," and to be enthusiastic, to have faith and to have courage.

"Come forward with courage and lead this great nation," she said.

Wake Forest University

E.J. Dionne Jr., a columnist for the Washington Post, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and professor at Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute, is scheduled to deliver Wake Forest University's 2008 commencement address May 19.

About 1,488 undergraduate and graduate students will receive diplomas during the outdoor ceremony on Wake Forest's Hearn Plaza, which is known as the Quad.