LWC Caps Off Record-Breaking Commencement Weekend
Communication and media studies graduate Jake Saylor from Louisville, Ky., celebrates after the 105th LWC commencement ceremony held Saturday, May 13 at Biggers Sports Center. Saylor served as Student Government Association president during his junior year.
Columbia, Ky. -- Graduates of the second half of Lindsey Wilson College's Class of 2017 were told to "pray for guidance" and "take time to listen" at Saturday morning's commencement ceremony.
Lindsey Wilson capped off its largest graduating class in the college's 114-year history at Saturday's spring commencement held before a record crowd of over 3,000 guests. The college awarded a total of 282 undergraduate and graduate degrees during the college's 105th commencement. Combined with the degrees awarded at last winter's commencement ceremony, the Lindsey Wilson Class of 2017 was a record 689 students.
To put Lindsey Wilson's growth in perspective, the college awarded 312 degrees in 2003-04, the last year it held only one commencement ceremony.
On Friday night before commencement, the college also had a record crowd at the annual senior banquet. The senior gift from the Class of 2017 was a check for $2,298 and was presented by members of the senior class to president William T. Luckey Jr. at the conclusion of the banquet.
In her commencement address on Saturday morning, Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton told the graduates to "pray for guidance" in their careers.
"My life is a life unplanned," said Hampton. "If your life doesn't go as you planned it's truly okay. However, take the time to see the opportunity. It may not look like you thought it would look, but it's there. Find the blessings and pray for guidance. Don't wait decades before you start praying for guidance, because once I started doing that, that's how I was lead to become Lt. Governor. And find something to be thankful for every day."
Hampton also told the graduates that during a time of heightened political divisiveness to not forget about the importance of listening.
"We're seeing the incivility in this nation where people with opposing viewpoints can't even speak to each other," said Hampton. "I've had some of the best conversations with people whose viewpoints are 180 degrees from my own. It seems like in this nation we're not listening to each other. Please take time to listen."
Twelve members of the Golden Alumni Class of 1967 were also recognized and three individuals received honorary doctorates from the college. The three honorary doctorate recipients were: Sue Coomer, a recent retiree and 46 year employee of the college; Phil Hanna, Director of Library Services capping off 24 years of service to the college; and Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton.
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