BLOOMINGTON - Actor Kevin Dunn told Illinois Wesleyan University's Class of 2008 Sunday that he seemed a little inadequate to stand before them to give a commencement speech: As an IWU student, he spent more time in front of a pitcher of beer than a textbook. | Photo Gallery

But his voice cracked when he recalled a meeting with theater professor John Ficca, who gave him an on-campus job so that he would be able to pay his tuition and not have to postpone his senior year.

Dunn told the graduates of several modern-day challenges to overcome, including corporate executives who cut employee benefits and pensions in order to increase shareholder profit and their own "obscene compensation." He noted that the United States is the largest debtor nation in the world, and listed the consequences of the Iraq war, including 600,000 Iraqi deaths and 4,000 American deaths.

"Our uncertain future is placed into your waiting hands," he told the graduates.

Earlier, IWU President Richard Wilson reminded students of the February shooting at Northern Illinois University, asking them to silently reflect "on behalf of those who lost children, friends and colleagues.

"Each of us has been affected by the tragedy on that campus this past year," he said.

The 500 members of the graduating class, clad in green robes, sat in Eckley Quadrangle Sunday for the commencement ceremony, which included the presentation of honorary degrees to IWU trustee Craig C. Hart, Chicago businessman and philanthropist Sidney Epstein and Dunn, who graduated from IWU in 1977 and went on to appear in numerous films and TV programs including "Boston Legal" and "Samantha Who?"

Wilson began his career at IWU four years ago, when the graduates had enrolled as freshmen. He said he will always have a special place in his heart for the students.

Class president Christopher Burritcher told his class that he considers them, "heavily caffeinated," and "raised on the internet. This class loves a challenge," he said.

He noted that when the class began their college careers, a presidential election was looming and the country was at war, and the circumstances are similar now.

"This is a challenge we are ready to face," he said of the graduation.

Following the recessional, graduates dispersed throughout the quad and posed for pictures with smiling friends, family and faculty members.

"I'm so excited," said graduate Kelly McFadin.

McFadin, a Bloomington native, majored in nursing and has secured a position at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

"I learned a lot while I was here," she continued. "I worked hard for this degree."