Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsSunday, May 11, 2008 10:40 PM CDT
Comments Comments (0) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
New journeys begin for Lincoln College's 218 graduates
By Kevin Barlow
kbarlow@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

LINCOLN -- As commencement speaker for the 141st graduation at Lincoln College on Saturday, 4th District Appellate Judge James Knecht said it was his duty to talk about the upcoming life journey the 218 graduates would soon begin.

Relying on personal experience, he said every journey is different and every destination different. But as a native of Lincoln, he also had something in common with the graduates.

“I would sit on the curb and watch the train come through town and wonder where I would end up,” Knecht said. “But I ended up 30 miles from where I began. I live in Normal, but it doesn’t matter where your journey takes you. You just have to remember to enjoy the journey itself.”

In addition to those receiving diplomas Saturday at the Davidson-Sheffer Gymnasium, another 90 Lincoln College diplomas were handed out at a ceremony at ISU’s Center for the Performing Arts in Normal.

Across town at Lincoln Christian College, 170 students received degrees.

Knecht was an associate circuit judge from 1975 to 1978 and a circuit judge from 1978 until he was elected to the Fourth District Appellate Court in 1986.

“When I go to work at the historic courtroom in Springfield, I remember that I personally am not important,” Knecht said. “But the work I do is important. And the work you will do is important, but the personal relationships you have are also essential.”

Knecht told the packed gymnasium that success is not measured by wealth but by generosity toward fellow human beings. Take affirmative action, he told the graduates, and it will come back to benefit you in the end.

“When someone is hungry, feed them, and when someone cannot read, teach them,” he said. “Your quality of life is dependent upon what you do for others.”

Lincoln native Chris Ackerman gave the student address and thanked the college for providing him the opportunity to find his direction in life. Ackerman will enroll at North Central College in Naperville in the fall, where he will continue his dream of becoming a broadcast journalist.

“Lincoln College has done a lot to help me find the passion for something and giving me direction in my life,” he said. “I believe that we have a world class faculty here and you would be hard-pressed to find any college that has the type of family atmosphere that we have here.”

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 0 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy