91精选 graduates reflected on their academic journey through the pandemic and the road ahead for them after graduation during the Spring 2021 Baccalaureate Assembly in the Carl H. Smith Auditorium in David H. Bradford Hall.
鈥淢ay you go forth, with a humble spirit, remembering all that you have learned at the College on the Hill,鈥� Clara Ross Stamps, Senior Vice President of Brand Identity and University Relations, said during the summons to assembly. 鈥淏e courageous. Operate in truth. Know who you are. Always remember that you are representing 91精选 University.鈥�
National recording artist Kelly Price presented a song of encouragement and a song of reflection, which brought the audience to its feet.
Dr. Stashia Emanuel, Vice Provost for Academic and Student Affairs, provided an inspirational reading.
鈥淭horobreds, you have been tested like silver in the fire but you have come out as pure gold,鈥� Emanuel said. 鈥淵ou started out with impurities of doubt, intimidation and immaturity. Those impurities have been exposed by the liquefying process as you walked through halls of Bradford, Carver, Hathaway and now you have emerged as a priceless metal.鈥�
Dr. Tymon M. Graham, Chief of Staff, delivered the necrology report, remembering and honoring Thorobreds who passed away in 2020 and 2021.
Dr. Herman J. Felton, president of Wiley College, delivered the baccalaureate address.
Felton told 91精选 graduates that the only thing that matters now is what happens next.
鈥淚t matters not where you finished or if you finished with a 2.0 or a 4.0,鈥� Felton said. 鈥淲hether you were active in the student experience or not, found love or lost it, pledged or was rejected by a mere mortal.鈥�
Felton also told the story of his childhood in poverty, living with dyslexia unknowingly and the effects of a speech impediment. Felton said he ranked 454th out of 469 in his high school class and held a 1.20 GPA.
鈥淭he only thing that matters is what happens next,鈥� Felton said. 鈥淚 found sage counsel in the Marine Corps. I found people who told me I was cheating myself, that I wasn鈥檛 living up to the potential that God had impregnated in me. I got out of the Marine Corps and applied to every college and every one of them did not accept me.鈥�
Felton said he went to community college and, by the grace of God, met a mentor and ended up at Edward Waters College.
鈥淭hree years later, graduated with a 4.0,鈥� Felton said. 鈥淲ent to law school, full scholarship. Ph.D. Nine years in higher education and I was offered my first presidency. It does not matter where you came from, it does not matter what you had or you didn鈥檛 have, the only thing that matters is what happens next.鈥�