(jaunty music)
(relaxed music)
(stately music)
(audience applauds)
- Please remain standing
for the posting of our national colors
and remain standing for the singing of the national anthem
and the invocation.
Gentlemen, please remove your hats.
- Right face.
Left, left, left, right.
Mark time, march.
Left, left wheel, march.
Detail, halt.
Post colors.
Present arms.
♫ O say can you see
♫ By the dawn's early light
♫ What so proudly we hailed
♫ At the twilight's last gleaming
♫ Whose broad stripes and bright stars
♫ Through the perilous fight
♫ O'er the ramparts we watched
♫ Were so gallantly streaming
♫ And the rockets' red glare
♫ The bombs bursting in air
♫ Gave proof through the night
♫ That our flag was still there
♫ O say does that star-spangled
♫ Banner yet wave
♫ O'er the land of the free
♫ And the home of the brave
- [Leader] Forward march. (audience applauds)
- Let us pray.
Lord God of grace, we stand today at the intersection
between the past and the future.
And so we are a people of memory and hope.
This commencement ceremony reminds us
that one journey has come to an end
and that a new one begins.
And so in the very same moment,
we look back with warmth and fondness and delight
even as we look ahead with excitement and eagerness
and, yes, even some uneasy trepidation.
We are amazed, O God, how quickly these years have sped.
In what seems like the blink of an eye,
freshmen have become seniors,
and orientation day has given way to graduation day.
So what we are thankful for most of all
are our cherished memories,
memories that will be savored and enjoyed again and again
as these young people look back over this journey
of discovery and maturity and growth.
Gracious God, for deep friendships
which have been forged here,
friendships begun here that will last a lifetime,
we give you our thanks.
For reunions to come, for stories and laughter
and the shared journey will bind this class together,
and for the unique relationship
between professor and student,
coach and athlete, mentor and protege,
for how these relations have drawn out
the best in these young people
and have allowed them to give full expression
to the gifts you've given them, we give you our thanks.
And we are grateful, O God,
that they have had the opportunity to excel here,
to face up to challenges without shrinking from them,
to discover the joy of accomplishment.
And we are even grateful for what they have learned
from failure and setback,
when best efforts have come up short
so that they have had to begin again.
For important life lessons in resilience
and determination and fortitude,
which have made them stronger than they knew they were,
for all the ways that their time in this community
has shaped them and has equipped them
for a promising and hopeful future, we give you our thanks.
And we thank you, O God,
for families assembled here bursting with pride,
for the sacrifices they have made
to make this college education possible.
We thank you, O God, for placing in your people
an impulse to grow and learn
and for these families who have looked forward to this day.
And God of the ages, we thank you for those
who have made this institution possible,
those who built its buildings,
those who gave of themselves
for the sake of future generations,
those who over the years have exercised
stewardship of this university
that days like this might be possible.
We pray your continued blessing
upon William Peace University,
that for generations to come, inquisitive young scholars
might be drawn here to flourish here.
But today our most fervent prayer is that you will bless
and guide these soon-to-be graduates
as they move out into the world.
They are brimming with energy and they are yearning
to find a sense of purpose and vocation.
But in addition to adding to the world's prosperity
and achievement and advancement,
might they also do what previous generations
have sometimes failed to do,
which is build more community,
more understanding, more generosity of spirit,
more tolerance, more shalom, more peace,
which is the gift you keep hoping to give to this world.
Be at work in and through these graduates
and their whole generation
that they might shine a light
that will chase away the darkness.
To the glory of your name forever and ever, Amen.
- [Audience] Amen.
- Please be seated.
Good morning, Board of Trustees, honored guests,
faculty and staff, parents, families, and friends,
and most especially the Class of 2016.
I am Brian Ralph, President of William Peace University,
and it is my distinct pleasure
to welcome you and celebrate with you on this day.
Today is dedicated to you, Class of 2016.
The paths that you have walked have been unique to you.
I've been delighted to meet so many of you
as you completed your senior year
here at William Peace University.
Many of you have distinguished records
in academics, athletics, the arts, and service
during your time at Peace.
And some of you have, shall we say,
distinguished records of a different sort
that you will provide some good laughs
at a future alumni event.
Whether you pursued a double major,
moved here from another part of the world,
or completed your degree
while juggling family and job responsibilities,
your accomplishment is impressive
and all of you are to be congratulated.
It is also important to note that
you didn't get here on your own.
So today we also congratulate the families and friends
who have shown you their support along the way.
At this time, I would like to ask
all of the family members of the Class of 2016
to please rise so that we may recognize you.
(audience applauds)
Thank you.
I have the honor today to introduce our commencement speaker
Lynn Erdman, Class of 1975, and I encourage you
to read her complete and incredibly impressive biography
in your program.
Lynn Erdman carries more than 30 years of experience
in the non-profit and healthcare sectors
and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer
for the Association of Women's Health,
Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses,
a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C.
that supports the healthcare of women and newborns.
During her time at Peace, Erdman majored in biology,
and through exploration and discovery,
determined with the advice of her advisor
that what she really wanted to do with her life.
She continued on and earned her associate degree from Peace,
a bachelor of science in nursing
from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro,
and a master of nursing at the University of South Carolina.
Miss Erdman began her career
as a neonatal intensive care nurse
and later worked at cancer centers
to support women battling cancer.
She also worked in women's health,
labor and delivery, high-risk obstetrics,
gynecology surgery, oncology, hospice care,
and served as the founding director
of the Presbyterian Cancer Center
in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Throughout her career,
Erdman has built numerous programs and partnerships
to improve women's health, access to care,
advocacy, research, preservation,
prevention treatment, and early detection of cancer.
She has held key national leadership positions
with several global health organizations,
including the American Cancer Society,
the American College of Surgeons
and the Susan G. Komen Global Headquarters.
Erdman was also the first woman and first nurse
to serve as chair
of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Committee
for the American Cancer Society.
Nationally recognized as an engaging speaker,
Erdman has given more than 800 lectures
in the U.S. and internationally.
Since 1994, she has served as consulting faculty
for Duke University's Graduate School of Nursing.
She has received nursing's top honor
by being named a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing
due to her nationwide advocacy in preventive care
and mentoring opportunities that she has created for nurses.
Please join me in giving a very warm
William Peace University welcome
to our commencement speaker, Miss Lynn Erdman.
(audience applauds)
- Wow, what a beautiful day!
The first thing I'd like to say is thank you.
William Peace University has given me
an extraordinary honor to be with you today.
Doctor Ralph, thank you for inviting me
as well as for the marvelous introduction.
My parents would be proud.
Graduates, this is your day.
So on this beautiful day, before all of you,
I want to share 10 lessons I have learned in life.
This way you know my talk is finite
and we can get to the real celebration.
Lesson number one.
I've learned courage is important.
It was the summer between my junior
and senior years in high school.
I had been selected for an exchange program
with the Girl Scouts of America.
My assignment was to spend 10 weeks
in Guatemala and British Honduras,
living with girl scouts and their families in their homes.
I was three weeks into my trip
and staying with a family in Belize, British Honduras.
The home had no running water, no beds,
we slept on the floor, no electricity,
no bathroom but instead an outhouse
or a latrine behind the house.
My first meal there was a plate of rice
with dead flies on top of it.
I was hungry and I ate.
The family spoke broken English
and we learned pretty well how to communicate.
On the fourth night of my stay,
I was awakened in the middle of the night
to loud noises of shouting and chanting in the streets.
It was dark as I peered out of the window.
I could see what appeared to be flames
and people with signs running through the dirt streets.
A short time later, I heard banging on the front door,
and the father appeared in my room.
He told me to grab my things, I was leaving.
At this point, I was confused and frightened,
but I gathered my belongings
and found an English-speaking woman and gentleman
in the next room waiting for me.
They quickly threw my coat over my head
and rushed me to their car,
putting me in the trunk of the car,
and with the horn blaring,
we made it to the other side of town.
My mind was racing with terror.
I did not understand why I had been taken
in the middle of the night or where I was going.
When the car stopped and the trunk was opened,
I was helped out of the car
and ushered into an upstairs apartment
to a family I had never seen.
I was informed there had been an election in the town
the previous day and the results led
to racial riot pitting whites against blacks.
It was determined by the program organizers
for the Girl Scouts that my life was in danger
in the home where I was staying,
so I was moved in secret.
No cell phones existed at that time,
so notifying my parents was my decision.
I chose not to call them
fearing they would insist I come home.
I learned courage is important.
However, calling my mother would have taken
more courage than I had.
(audience laughs)
Lesson number two.
I've learned family is important.
I was a freshman here at Peace College.
It was 8:00 p.m. on a Thursday evening
and the hall phone rang in the dormitory.
I heard someone yell, "Lynn, you got a phone call."
I wondered who could be calling me.
I was kind of hoping it was that cute guy from Duke
asking me for a date.
(audience laughs)
As I answered the phone,
the voice on the other end was crying uncontrollably.
It was my mother.
She said, "You need to cancel your plans
"and come home for the weekend."
I found a ride home and arrived in Charlotte
about 5:00 p.m. that Friday.
I found my mother and father distraught.
My dad finally shared with me
that my younger sister Faye, a junior in high school,
was 4 1/2 months pregnant with her boyfriend Jimmy.
This was the 1970s,
and my parents were absolutely devastated.
They ask about giving the baby up for adoption.
My parents had called me home
to fix what they thought was a broken situation.
After a long visit with Faye,
I realized she wanted to have this baby.
I came home often to check on Faye
and make sure she was getting prenatal care.
Faye and Jimmy loved each other
and they got married before their child was born.
Faye and Jimmy are married today.
They will celebrate 42 years of marriage next month,
and their son Jason will turn 42 in July.
(audience laughs)
(audience applauds)
Faye volunteers at a crisis pregnancy center
so she can support girls and women
facing dilemmas and decisions
she had to face alone many years ago.
Family is important.
I heard from Anthony and Nina
that the 2016 class here at Peace is a family.
(audience cheers)
(laughs) Lesson number three.
I've learned breaking rules can have consequences.
I was a sophomore at Peace
and several of us decided to sneak out of the dorm
and to go over to an event at NC State campus.
We had dorm mothers and not anything got past them.
Eight of us made it out of the dorm to our cars
and to the campus of NC State.
We had a great time.
As we hurried back to our cars,
I tripped and fell on a chain link fence,
tearing my jeans and cutting my leg.
We made it safely back to campus
and snuck quietly into our dorm without being noticed.
Or so we thought.
15 minutes later, I heard Mrs. Goodrum
at my door saying, "Where have you been, young lady?"
I responded, "What are you talking about?"
She proceeded to tell me that drops of blood
had decorated the entrance to the dorm
and tracked right up to my room.
(audience laughs)
Busted, Mrs. Goodrum made me tell where I had been
and who had gone with me.
I was the only one grounded.
I can still say till today that it was worth it.
But I can also say just be careful
when you decide to break the rules;
there are consequences.
Lesson number four.
I've learned it's important to learn people's names.
It was my junior year in college
and I was taking my first exam in nursing.
I got to the last question,
feeling pretty good about my answers, and I froze.
The question read, name the person
who cleans the School of Nursing each day.
A brave student raised her hand and asked our professor
if that question actually counted as part of our exam.
The professor answered, "Yes, the question counts.
"Names are important.
"We all have one and our name makes us unique and special.
"Try to learn people's names.
"It will benefit you for a lifetime."
Well, I missed that question on the test.
I learned her name was Dorothy.
I made a point thereafter
of learning and using people's names.
Lesson number five.
I've learned it's important to have a mentor.
I started my nursing career
as a neonatal intensive care nurse.
I loved taking care of those tiny babies.
Eight months into my career,
I was called to the Director of Nursing's office.
She told me she had decided to open a cancer unit
at the hospital and she wanted me to move to that area.
My initial thought was no way.
Then bribery came into play.
She told me if I helped open the unit
and worked there for at least six months,
I could choose any shift in any unit
in the hospital to transfer to.
Well, I was working nights
and the offer sounded too good to pass up.
I stayed in oncology
and went to graduate school in that specialty.
I always look back and recognize
that Nancy, my Director of Nursing,
saw something in me I could not see,
and I am grateful for her guidance in my career.
Look for mentors in your life.
Lesson number six.
I've learned to listen.
Nick was my patient and he was dying of AIDS.
This was the mid-80s and AIDS patients
were admitted to the cancer units
because other areas refused to care for them.
Nick had been in and out numerous times
and we had built a bond between us.
Nick knew he was dying.
He asked me if he could help plan his death.
He wanted to stop all treatment
and have his breathing apparatus unhooked
so he would slip from life.
He had said his goodbyes and he wanted to die on his terms.
I spoke with Nick's physician and shared the plan.
The physician agreed and left me in charge.
Nick chose the evening he wanted to die.
He wanted to see the last episode
of the TV show Northern Exposure.
We watched the end of it together,
unhooked his breathing tube,
made him comfortable, and I held his hand
as he took his last breath peacefully.
I learned to listen.
I heard Nick's wishes.
Lesson number seven.
I've learned attitude is important.
I was making rounds in the emergency room one day
as Frank was being admitted.
He was a telecommunications worker
and he had fallen 60 feet while working on a phone tower.
The paramedics' faces looked grim
and Frank was not in good shape
when he was wheeled into triage.
Nurses were frantically connecting Frank to monitors,
starting IVs, checking vital signs.
The lead nurse yelled across the room to Frank saying,
"Are you allergic to anything?"
To the surprise of the ER team, Frank responded, "Yes."
The nurse yelled back, "What are you allergic to?"
Frank said in the loudest voice he could, "Gravity."
(audience laughs)
The ER became silent and Frank laughed and told the team,
"When you take me to surgery,
"operate on me like I'm going to live."
Well, Frank spent two months in the hospital
but he returned home.
Frank believed attitude was everything,
and he was doing his best to make sure
everyone around him had a positive attitude.
Lesson number eight.
I've learned to look for really interesting
challenging problems that I can help solve.
Find your passion.
The organization I run in Washington, D.C.
recognized that diapers were too costly
for low income families.
They don't come with food stamps.
So we partnered with numerous organizations
across the nation, including the White House,
and we're making a dent in wiping out the diaper need
across this country.
Lesson number nine.
I've learned you can't buy happiness.
Choose a job you like to do.
Look at the happy people in your life.
Chances are they do work they enjoy.
And lesson number 10.
I've learned speaking up and speaking out
are both important.
Peggy Young was a--
- And how he performs in the classroom.
Now, normally I'd admonish the student who wrote that
for calling a faculty member weird.
In this case,
I believe it is both
a compliment and entirely accurate.
(audience laughs)
This year's McCormick Distinguished Teaching Award
goes to Doctor Wade Newhouse.
(audience cheers and applauds)
Something for me to give?