Orland Grad Delivers Lewis U. Commencement Speech

The following is the unedited commencement speech given at Lewis University on May 15.

Student Lasallian Commencement Address

May 2011

Presented by: Thomas Lynch

Good afternoon, members of the Board of Trustees, Brother James, honored guests, faculty, staff, fellow graduates, parents, family and friends. 

Today, as we honor and celebrate the many years of hard work and dedication to learning that brought us to this defining moment in our lives, we reflect upon our college education and remember the different paths that each of us has taken to get here.  Through our experiences, we have learned the mission values of knowledge, fidelity, wisdom, justice, and association that have been instilled in each of us through receiving a Catholic and Lasallian education at Lewis University.

When I first came to Lewis, I was anxious about facing four years – or more - of challenges.  Maybe you felt that way, too.  As a commuter, I worried that I wouldn’t meet very many people or have many friends. However, through the strong sense of community fostered at Lewis I immediately felt accepted and began to develop many friendships.  You see, here at Lewis we are a community, a community of friends and learners, all connected to one another.  Today, we are each connected by the completion of our mission here at Lewis.

We each came here for a mission.  What has been your mission?  My mission when coming to Lewis was to study biology, which is the study of life.  However, I never thought that I would learn so much about life simply from the interactions that I had each day with the many students, faculty, and staff here at Lewis.  It is through these interactions that I have been able to develop the value of knowledge and learn so much about my field of study and about myself.

Another mission that I had when coming to Lewis was to develop my faith in God.  I believe that my greatest faith experience was when I attended Lewis’ Koinonia retreat.  I met so many people there whose faith inspired me.  Interacting with them enabled me to discover God more fully for myself and realize the value of fidelity.  More importantly, I learned I can be a scientist and a person of faith.

Who are the people at Lewis who have developed your knowledge?  Which professor challenged you to think in a new way and made a difference in your life?  Whether you majored in nursing, history, math, or art, Lewis has provided an opportunity to learn a field of study, the value of academic excellence, and the importance of receiving an education for pursuing our dreams.

As graduates of Lewis University, we have that education and experiences necessary to succeed in life.  As I look out upon all of you today I can see that no matter what path we follow in life, we have the ability to succeed when pursuing our dreams.  All of us graduating here today are an affirmation of this. 

As we progress and overcome challenges in life, I truly believe that no matter where our lives take us, it is the people that we meet along the way, that really matter.     It is these people, our families and our friends, who are behind us for support and guidance and who are cheering us on as we find success in our lives.   

Lewis University has given us a heritage as well as an education.  With knowledge and faith, today we go out to make a beneficial impact upon the world and humanity.

Congratulations, Class of 2011!!!

Video of the address is also available for viewing.