Spring Commencement Caps Off College’s Largest Graduating Class

Courtney Hatfield of Vine Grove, Ky., left, and Sydney Harvey of Louisville, Ky. , move
their tassel to the left side of their mortar board to signify their graduation from LWC. 

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Lindsey Wilson College 2011 spring graduates were told to use their college degrees to do something and serve others.

 That was the message delivered by Lindsey Wilson alumna Hilda Legg on Saturday morning at the college's 93rd commencement ceremony, held in Biggers Sports Center.

"Some of you in this class, you may find that your opportunity will be bigger even than your dreams," said Legg, an Adair County native and former LWC director of admissions.

At the Saturday morning ceremony, Lindsey Wilson awarded a total of 158 degrees -- 141 undergraduate degrees and 17 graduate degrees. Combined with the 365 degrees awarded at LWC's winter commencement ceremony, the LWC Class of 2011 is a record 523 graduates.

Although the Lindsey Wilson graduates are entering an anemic national economy, Legg urged them to look for opportunities to make a difference.

"Innovate, act, do something and know that out of your actions, failure is not an option," she said. "You may learn some lessons, you may have some setbacks, but failure is not an option. … Learn from what you try, learn from taking chances, learn from your actions, but most of all be a part of it and do something -- act."

Legg also urged the graduates to be inspired by the essence of the Lindsey Wilson mission -- "every student, every day" -- to serve others.

"That (Lindsey Wilson) motto focused on you -- you have felt it, you have reaped the benefits of it," she said. "It is now your turn to decide who in your life will be your every person, your everyday challenge to help. … Don't make your future about you, make it about those around you. Consider that the future belongs to you, but that you also truly belong to the future."

In addition to serving at Lindsey Wilson, Legg also was alternate federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission and she was the first executive director and CEO of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Ky. She was also the first female administrator of the Rural Utilities Service. She is a candidate for Kentucky secretary of state.

"One of the reasons that I have been blessed beyond my imagination" is because of Lindsey Wilson, Legg said. "Lindsey Wilson College was the first step to my adult life. It launched me into a world of education and opportunity that frankly I had never even thought a remote possibility."

Legg received an honorary doctorate from the college.

Also receiving an honorary doctorate from the college was United Methodist Church leader Jim Sutton of Crestwood, Ky. Sutton, who has been a member of the Lindsey Wilson Board of Trustees since 1999, is co-founder of The Lighthouse, a United Methodist Church Community Center that serves underprivileged urban children and families in Louisville, Ky. He is chair of the Lighthouse Board of Directors, and he is vice president of Lighthouse Promise Inc., Lighthouse's fund-raising arm.

Also on Saturday, LWC inducted 11 alumni from the Class of 1961 into the Golden Alumni Society, which honors alumni who graduated from the college 50 years ago.

The commencement ceremony was preceded on Friday night by the senior banquet and baccalaureate service. The Rev. Michael Powers, superintendent of the Bowling Green District of the Kentucky Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, delivered the baccalaureate message.

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Click here to see pictures from 2011 spring commencement weekend.