With two more commencement ceremonies concluded, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College welcomes 281 graduates from the class of 2021 to join the thousands of alumni on Saturday, May 8. This was the 187th commencement and the first that featured student speakers.
Dylan Thomas, a 2018 Woods Online graduate, spoke as a Master of Leadership Development graduate on Saturday during the online and graduate ceremony.
As he began, he posed a question to the graduates — “Is the universe a friendly place or not?” Albert Einstein responded with this to identify the most important question one can ask in life. While a daunting question, Thomas looked to Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s words for inspiration: “We are not called upon to do all the good possible, but only that which we can do.”
“The answer to the question ‘is the universe friendly or not’ rests not beyond our grasp, but in these seats,” Thomas said. “To the graduates sitting here, today, I will reiterate that this institution has given us a unique advantage.”
Undergraduate campus students heard from peer Kathryn Kraft, a business administration major. While on campus, Kraft was on the women’s basketball and hunt seat equestrian teams. In her speech, she focused on the future The Woods shined a light on.
“Whatever experiences The Woods has presented to you, we all now have the chance to use this foundation as a springboard to seek new opportunities,” Kraft said. “Our time here has allowed each of us to cultivate lessons and experiences we need to find success in the next stages of our lives.”
Jeffery Allen, a student who passed away in March, was honored when his family received his diploma by Dottie L. King, Ph.D., president. He was a nursing student and a respiratory therapist.
“We wish to remember his accomplishments and honor him today by presenting a Bachelor of Science to Jeffery L. Allen,” King said.
Award winners were recognized during the ceremonies.
Elizabeth Reel received the Undergraduate Alumni Leadership and Service Award recognizing a graduate who demonstrated outstanding leadership and service during their time at SMWC. Emma Campbell received the Graduate Alumni Leadership and Service Award.
The Kappa Gamma Pi St. Catherine medals were given to Bridget Gutish and Diana Guzman Lagunas. The National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society awards medals to one campus student and one distance student who have demonstrated both academic excellence and exemplary service and leadership on and off campus.
The Maud Helm Rockwell Medal for Academic Excellence is given to a graduate of the campus-based program and a graduate of the Woods Online program with the highest academic grade point average. This year, there are four campus students with 4.0 GPAs: Alexandria Bazzani, Bridget Gutish, Ashley Otte and Lindsey Skelton. The Woods Online 4.0 GPA recipients are Marcy Nave, Kimberly Theriac and Angelia Walters.
“Regardless of where you or your loved ones are, we are excited to recognize your graduation and completion of your journey at The Woods,” King said.
Between the ceremonies, a baccalaureate liturgy led by campus minister Jared Wuerzburger, Ph.D.
