The 2017 spring commencement ceremonies took place at Central Community Church on Saturday, May 13 with hundreds of graduates, along with their families and friends, in attendance.
During the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, which took place at 10 a.m., two distinguished speakers approached the lectern to deliver inspirational speeches to the graduates.
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Jill Fort, Ph.D., also the recipient of the 2016 Teaching Excellence Award, talked to the students about their path and always being open to change. She began her speech with a warning that as a criminologist, her speech “may not exactly be what you expect,” followed by a quote from Ted Bundy.
Her engaging and heartfelt speech followed the timeline of her own path that led her to where she is today. Watch Fort’s full speech below.
The second honored speaker of the ceremony was Larry Fugate. Larry and his wife Dana received the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa for their dedication to charitable and faith-based organizations for children within the community, and their strong examples of the Catholic faith and Catholic higher education.
Watch Fugate’s full speech below.
