SPRING COMMENCEMENT CAPS OFFLWC's LARGEST GRADUATING CLASS

Lindsey Wilson College’s spring graduates were told not to worry about the tenuous job market and instead focus on “being good at what you do.”
That was the advice of commencement speaker Alice Brown at the college’s 87th commencement ceremony, held Saturday morning in Biggers Sports Center.
More than 2,000 friends and family members saw the college confer degrees to a total of 163 students – 151 undergraduate students and 12 graduate students. Combined with 249 graduates from last winter’s commencement, the 412-member Class of 2008 is the largest in Lindsey Wilson’s 105-year history. To put that figure in perspective, Lindsey Wilson graduated a total of 135 students in 2003.
Brown, who is the outgoing president of the Appalachian College Association, told the Lindsey Wilson graduates that the key to job security in an uncertain time is to focus on what they do well.
“A lot of people today find the job market threatening – they are afraid they won’t be able to find a job or they are afraid they won’t be able to keep the job they have,” said Brown, who has led the 37-member ACA for the last 25 years. “What I’ve learned is that job security is not something to worry about. Being good at what you do will give you as much job security as is possible in today’s world.”
Brown–who also received an honorary doctorate from the college –said Lindsey Wilson is an example of how small private colleges do an excellent job of preparing graduates to succeed.
“I believe that Lindsey Wilson, more than most colleges, has given you experiences as well as information and has, therefore, better prepared you for your life ahead than many colleges are preparing their students,” she said.
Brown cited a recent ACA-sponsored survey of the association’s alumni that found that when compared to graduates of public regional universities, ACA graduates “have greater overall satisfaction with their college experiences and a stronger belief that their undergraduate experiences prepared them well for their first jobs.”
“In short, they appear to be happier,” she said.
Also receiving an honorary doctorate from Lindsey Wilson were:
•R. Vince Fanelli, a retired Louisville-area businessman and supporter of The United Methodist Church and Lindsey Wilson;
•the Rev. Paul Fryman, a United Methodist minister who was district superintendent of the Columbia District before being named senior pastor of State Street United Methodist Church of Bowling Green, Ky., two years ago;
•and the Rev. J. Howard Olds, a Lindsey Wilson trustee and longtime United Methodist minister who is retiring next month as senior pastor of Brentwood (Tenn.) United Methodist Church.
At Lindsey Wilson’s annual baccalaureate service, held Friday night in Biggers Sports Center, United Methodist minister the Rev. Darrell Lyons delivered the baccalaureate message.
The baccalaureate service was preceded by the annual Senior Banquet, held in Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. Daniel W. Phillips III, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice, delivered the farewell address.

 

Photo:HATS AWAY: Members of the Lindsey Wilson College Class of 2008 celebrate in front of the John B. Begley Chapel following Saturday morning’s commencement ceremony in Biggers Sports Center.