May 2018 LWC Graduates Encouraged to “Dream Bigger”
Pictured: Former state delegate representing the 2nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, the Honorable Michael Futrell received an honorary doctorate Saturday, May 12, 2018, from Lindsey Wilson College at the liberal arts college's spring commencement. From left: LWC President William T. Luckey Jr., Futrell and Lindsey Wilson Board of Trustees Chair Allan Parnell of Louisville, Ky.
COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Members of the second half of Lindsey Wilson College's Class of 2018 were encouraged to challenge themselves, dream big and to “not settle for what is realistic” at Saturday morning's commencement ceremony.
The college awarded a total of 218 undergraduate and graduate degrees at Saturday morning's ceremony held before a crowd of more than 3,200 guests. Combined with the 340 degrees awarded at last winter's commencement ceremony, Lindsey Wilson awarded 558 degrees to the Class of 2018.
In his commencement address, LWC alumnus, Honorable Michael Futrell ’07 told the graduates to not be limited by others negativity or lack of ambition.
“As I stand up here and look across this room I see the different individuals sitting out here and it excites me because you have your whole life in front of you,” said Futrell, who also received an honorary doctorate from the liberal arts college. “This is just the beginning. Don’t get bogged down by what other people tell you can not be done. Don’t limit yourself to what you can become.”
Futrell made history in 2014 when at the age of 31 he became the youngest African American to be elected a state delegate representing the 2nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly and the first African American to represent Stafford County, Va., in its 350 year existence.
“Challenge yourself and whatever your dreams are right now – I want you to dream bigger. I want you to go beyond because so many times in life I have heard people say ‘Michael we just need you to be realistic,’” Futrell said. “And I laugh because if I only believed in what people told me was realistic, my life would not be a possibility.”
And Futrell concluded his address at the college’s 107th commencement ceremony by telling the graduates that they each have the potential to make a difference.
“God has blessed us in this moment, right here, to make a difference. You’ll only reach your potential if you help someone else get to theirs. I want to tell you right now that I believe in you, I see greatness in each and every one of you, and I look forward to coming back one day and seeing you stand up here on this stage.”
Before the commencement ceremony, five members of the Class of 1968 were inducted into the Golden Alumni Society. Alumni are installed into the organization at their 50-year reunion.
On Friday night LWC held its annual senior banquet. The senior gift from the Class of 2018 was a check for $2,313 and was presented by the senior class officers to LWC President William T. Luckey Jr.