2022 Commencement

Dr. Keziah Tinkle-Williams’ Commencement speech at the first of seven ceremonies for online learners Monday morning was powerful. She shared with the audience her struggles with multiple sclerosis and the importance of slaying our inner dragons that can prevent us from reaching our goals. Her speech was so inspiring, it resulted in a number of outbreaks of applause. “Stop selling yourself short. Be your own hero,” she concluded.

Drs. Alyson Bell and Johnny Fielder are just two examples of overcoming adversity and emerging victorious despite the hardships they endured along the way to their doctoral degrees. Bell juggled raising three children as a single mother, working fulltime as an educator and acting as a caretaker for her parents as their health declined. Fielder’s doctoral pursuit never wavered, even when a wildfire destroyed his home, leaving him and his wife with nothing but the small collection of things they were able to grab before evacuating. Both defied the odds and celebrated their accomplishments at Monday morning’s Commencement ceremony.

As Kendall Smith looked out to the audience at Friday evening’s Spring Commencement ceremony, she couldn’t help but reflect on her time at the University. An active member of the Honors College and the College of Arts and Media, she considered the opportunity to be the student speaker the perfect end to a memorable four-year journey at GCU. Smith expressed her gratitude in her speech for the love and care the university puts into every students experience. “I hope that students, when they graduate, that they’re proud to Lopes,” she said. “I hope all the graduates feel very thankful for all GCU has done for them.”

It was a heartwarming opening to a week of Commencements at GCU. At Thursday night’s first of 11 Commencements to honor the work of College of Education and College of Humanities and Social Sciences graduates, first-generation students expressed gratitude to their parents who never got the chance to go to college but sacrifice so much for them. And GCU President Brian Mueller shared thoughts that echoed that theme, reading the University mission statement that ends with “placing the needs of others before their own.” Rocio Cigarroa said her parents did that for her, moving to the U.S. for her education. She thanked them with some loving words on her graduation cap.