On Sunday, December 13th, Valparaiso University celebrated the end of an era with recollection, words of wisdom, and good tidings for the future at the 2015 Winter Commencement ceremony. The students may be leaving campus but the staff of Valparaiso University hopes to see them continue to be connected to the school and the community for years to come.
The conferring of degrees celebrated the academic accomplishments of students in the Law School, Graduate school, and the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and the Nursing and Health Profession. VU gave graduates the foundation for their careers and showed them the ideals that would guide them through their lives.
“Excellence is achieved through habit, through persistence,” said University President Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D. “Excellence is not just a destination, but it is a part of a journey. Our life’s journey together. It is something that informs our daily lives as we pursue our passions.”
Excellence is part of the character and tradition that Valparaiso University tries to instill in its pupils. Its mission encompasses scholarship, service, faith, and freedom. Dr Heckler’s speech to his parting students encouraged them to retain these lessons. They will always be a part of the school and it is his hope that they will continue to represent the VU motto long after graduation.
Alumni Lloyd G McClendon carried these morals with him throughout his baseball career. He graduated in 1981, left town to live his athletic dreams, and returned to the Chapel of the Resurrection on the 13th. This time it was him giving the address instead of listening to it.
“It’s real simple,” McClendon told the graduates, “The message that I’m trying to deliver is that if you believe in yourself and your abilities than you can accomplish anything in life. Never let anyone else determine what success means to you.”
Earning their diplomas is a huge step in the journey that is excellence. Graduation is only the beginning.
Lorraine E. Dorough, President of the Alumni Association, took the podium to welcome the new graduates to the rest of their lives. “The Valparaiso University Alumni Association looks forward to you joining the Alumni community and hearing how you are making a difference in the world, in the years to come.”