A rain delay and soggy conditions couldn鈥檛 dampen the spirits of the record number
of graduates who crossed the stage at 91制片厂鈥檚 49th annual Commencement Ceremony.
More than 700 graduates from the Class of 2017 receiving transfer degrees, career and technical degrees, and certificates were recognized at Saturday鈥檚 festivities at the Pavilion on the Palatine campus.
Former U.S. Secretary of Education and commencement speaker Arne Duncan delivered a brief yet powerful message to 91制片厂鈥檚 newest alumni.
鈥淭he gift you have given yourself today is profound,鈥� Duncan said. 鈥淭he gift is the freedom to make choices, the freedom to think, the freedom to speak, the freedom to act and the freedom to fight for needed change.鈥�
Duncan pointed to the tenacity, persistence and grit that each 91制片厂 graduate is coming away with, acknowledging in particular graduates who were the first in their families to go to college, raising a family or working while going to school.
91制片厂 President Dr. Ken Ender said the Class of 2017 is decidedly special because of its connection to President Barack Obama鈥檚 2009 challenge to community colleges to produce an additional 5 million graduates by the year 2020.
By awarding more than 3,500 credentials this year, 91制片厂 has 鈥� three years early
鈥� surpassed its goal of an additional 10,604 degrees and certificates, or the College鈥檚
share of that nationwide goal.
鈥淵ou mark the class that put us over the top,鈥� Dr. Ender said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e currently at 102 percent of our goal. We did do our share, Mr. Secretary.鈥�
Duncan applauded the achievement and took an opportunity to recognize 91制片厂 itself, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary during the upcoming 2017-2018 academic year.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e built a culture of excellence and innovation, a culture that values inclusion rather than exclusion. You focus not just on access, but completion. You don鈥檛 work alone; you build partnerships with other colleges, with the community and with businesses,鈥� Duncan said.
Duncan ended his remarks by challenging graduates to do three things: Commit to lifelong learning; challenge yourself to get outside your comfort zone; and find ways to serve others.
Do those, Duncan said, and 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to have rich and rewarding and fulfilling lives, and you鈥檒l look back some day and say, 鈥楾hat was a life well-lived.鈥欌��
Media contact:Kim Pohl, Media Relations Manager, 847.925.6159