Disciples colleges and universities recently held graduation ceremonies and a number featured well-known speakers giving the commencement address.
Chapman University hosted Larry Wilmore, a comedian formerly featured on the Daily Show with John Stewartas well as host of his own show, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, and currently the executive producer of the ABC series Black-ishand hosts of the podcast Black on Air. Wilmore shared that he almost attended Chapman and told graduates to “Pour yourself into something meaningful or there is no point.” He continued: “I decided to choose a path for myself and whatever I did with my life was a physical manifestation of walking down that path. Sometimes people will ask me when I considered my life a success and I tell them, ‘The minute I decided to follow my passion.’ Success is not a destination but a journey.”
Lynchburg College hosted Setsuko Thurlow, a Nobel Peace Prize winner for her work in nuclear disarmament and a 1955 graduate of LC. A survivor of the 1945 atomic blast in Hiroshima, Thurlow is now a leading figure in the movement to ban nuclear weapons. She shared that it is not easy to frequently recall the terror of the explosion and its aftermath in her speeches. “It has been painful, but rewarding task,” Thurlow said, but “I felt it was my moral responsibility to warn the world about the danger of nuclear weapons and the unspeakable suffering they would cause.”
Jarvis Christian College graduates heard from best-selling author Jesse J. Holland, who was selected by Disney to write companion novels for mega hits Black Pantherand Star Wars.
“Life will be a struggle filled with hard choices and no-win situations and straight up failures,” Holland told the graduates. “When you hit rough sea, will you fold your sails and go home? Will you give in or surge forward?” Holland shared stories of his own failures and how they made him a better reporter and writer. “I hope you will own your failures and learn from them and move forward,” he said. “Winners take their loss, learn what they can from their failures, make appropriate adjustments and try again.” In addition to Holland, Jarvis also awarded an honorary doctorate to actor Jamie Foxx.
Legendary US Olympian Robert “Bob” Beamon spoke at Eureka College. Beamon is a member of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame and selected as one of ESPN’s top 100 athletes of the 20th century. Beamon is also a member of the Jesse Owens Foundation Board of Directors and most recently appointed as the Global Ambassador to Special Olympics. His jump of 29-feet, 2.5-inches shattered the world record and remains the Olympic record after nearly a half-century. “I ran in the rain, I ran in the heat, I ran in the snow. It didn’t matter what the weather, I ran because I loved it,” Beamon said. “Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Beamon challenged graduates to “Find inspiration in living, and I mean really living, and giving. Go into the world and do well. But even more importantly, go into the world and do good.”
Bethany College graduates heard from former NFL star quarterback Charlie Batch, who played for both the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers before becoming a nationally-recognized advocate for urban communities. Batch told graduates to “Expect greatness in your life.” Reflecting on lessons he learned throughout his career, Batch said “Dream big. Remember that dreams are nothing more than plans awaiting action, and sometimes you may be the only one who can see your vision. I’m sure at some point you were told that you weren’t good enough…smart enough…talented enough. You can either buy into that lie, or you can challenge that lie, and say ‘No, I refuse to believe that.’”
Finally, Hiram College hosted Carol Zelis Perez, a 1975 HC graduate and current United States Ambassador to Chile. Speaking on the topic of “change,” Zelis Perez said that “We must accept that the only constant in life, in nature, in the universe, is change. The only question left to answer is ‘What will be your attitude in the face of change? Will you run? Resist? Reluctantly accept? Or embrace it?’” She told graduates that “The most joyful, rewarding path is that of radical acceptance, to learn to grow and to seize what is before you.”
HELM congratulates all the graduates from the fourteen Disciples related colleges and universities and looks forward to seeing the gifts you bring and the changes you make in our communities and world.