On Thursday, May 11, hundreds of graduates gathered for the last time to celebrate the end of the long road to graduation at Indiana University Northwest (IUN).
The 57th commencement ceremony featured stories from some of IUN’s hardest-working alumni and recent graduates, and it celebrated the hard work and dedication behind completing a degree while navigating the rest of life’s challenges.
The ceremony began with opening remarks from Indiana University President Pamela Whitten and IUN Chancellor Ken Iwama. Whitten then awarded the Honorable Robert D. Rucker with an honorary degree from the university.
Rucker grew up in Gary, Indiana, and is a proud alumnus of IUN. He became the first African American appellate judge in Indiana and the second African American to serve on the Indiana Supreme Court as the 105th Justice. During his career, Rucker worked to aid individuals from underprivileged or underrepresented groups in the legal process.
Rucker funded his studies by working in the steel mills. His education at IUN was interrupted by his service in the US Army, for which he earned a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart. He eventually returned to finish his Bachelor’s degree at IUN and continued his education at Valparaiso University, where he earned a Master’s degree in law.
Rucker’s story is one of perseverance and strength, but he is just one of the many graduates at IUN who, against all odds, was able to walk across the stage and receive a diploma.
Iwama shared stories of current graduates who battled challenges with children, homelessness, and finances, yet found a way to continue pushing for a degree. The youngest graduate to cross the stage was 20 years old, while the oldest was 64 years old. These graduates, and everyone in between, were commended for their dedication to education despite the inevitable challenges.
Over 80% of graduates were first-generation college students and 77% of graduates identified as female. The graduating class was one of the most diverse classes in the state, with 46% of graduates identifying as underrepresented people of color.
Commencement Speaker Takisha Stanford was one of these students who faced challenges while completing her degree. Stanford graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration after years of balancing work, family, and schooling. She urged the class of 2023 to continue to strive for the impossible.
“Making the decision to go back to school full-time was not easy,” Stanford said. “I had been a stay-at-home mom for close to 10 years. My kids were 18, seven, four, and three. I knew that to support my family, a job wouldn't cut it. I needed and wanted a career.”
Deciding to go back to school was a struggle in and of itself, but as Stanford reflected on the feeling of walking onto campus for the first time, she recalled her feelings of doubts and fears about whether or not she would be able to keep up. She was determined, but she couldn’t help but ask whether or not she was capable of such a large undertaking.
It wasn’t until a professor asked her class why they were there that Stanford truly found her “why.” For her, it was a way to lead by example for her kids. As she continued her education, looking back toward her “why” kept her focused on the end goal. Stanford urged her fellow graduates to continue the search for their purpose and to continue to exceed expectations and break boundaries post-graduation.
“Whatever the reason you chose to be here, you're here. You've made it to the finish line,” Stanford said. “Don't limit your challenges. Challenge your limits. Have faith. Never stop believing in yourself, and keep showing up and showing out.”
Whitten followed Stanford’s words of encouragement with her own and encouraged members of the IUN “family” to continue to share their journeys through hardships and times of celebration.
“No matter where their members may go in the world, families always come home,” Whitten said. “We hope that you'll return to this campus that has been your home. We hope that you'll visit often and eventually share your hard-earned wisdom with future members of your family. As you move into the next chapter of your life, remember the lessons that you've learned and the relationships that you have formed here at IU Northwest. Cherish these memories and take them with you wherever you go.”
Whitten, Iwama, and other faculty members welcomed over 700 members of the IUN family into the alumni network and awarded 32 associate degrees, 586 bachelor’s degrees, and 131 master’s degrees to the well-deserving students of IUN’s class of 2023. A total of 749 degrees were conferred at the ceremony, and family and friends were more than happy to celebrate the hard work of their loved ones after the commencement.
To learn more about the Class of 2023 at IUN, click here.
To learn more about Indiana University Northwest, visit https://www.iun.edu/
