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On May 8, 9, and 10 friends and family members of graduates converged on the three campuses of ӣ������ – bearing flowers and the occasional emergency change of shoes, pausing to take cap-and-gown photos, anticipating the moment when their loved one would cross the stage and collect their hard-earned degree.

In Hickory, around 300 undergraduates and another 200 graduate students made that crossing on the evening of May 9 in Moretz Stadium. An additional 50 graduate students participated in commencement festivities in Columbia on May 8, along with around 70 graduate students in Asheville on May 10.

The ceremony opened with a message for graduates about to enter the larger world from the Lenoir-Rhyne College Singers in the chorus of Thomas Keesecker’s “Good Trouble,” which reminded them to “Make good trouble to make this world a better place.”

Lenoir-Rhyne President Fred K. Whitt, Ed.D., presided over a ceremony that included a blessing from retiring Bishop Tim Smith of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and a moment of silence to remember Toni Oakes, Ed.D., professor and chair of the occupational therapy program who passed away in March.

Whitt’s remarks acknowledged the lifetime achievement and milestone of completing a degree. He encouraged graduates to pursue their dreams, saying “Your success is our success as well.”

He also commended the class of 2025 for eager engagement with the life of the university community. “We’re a better place because of you,” he said.

The ceremony also awarded an honorary doctorate to Madeleine Dassow ’75, M.A., whose devotion to her alma mater has made LR a better place through her service as a member of the Alumni Board, the Board of Visitors and the capital campaign planning committee. She recently chaired the presidential search committee and served as a member of the previous presidential search. In 2018, she and her husband, Duane Dassow ’75, established the Dassow University Commons. Most significantly, she served 10years on the Board of Trustees, seven of those as the first woman to chair the board.

Three student speakers expressed their love and gratitude for Lenoir-Rhyne in speeches that spoke of connections made, challenges overcome and lessons learned.

Leanna Barlowe ’19, M.S. ’25, majored in exercise science as an undergraduate and returned to complete her master’s in occupational therapy, fulfilling a long-term dream. Barlowe reflected on the personal and collective growth her class experienced during graduate school, emphasizing empathy, resilience and the importance of remembering what truly matters.

“In the times of uncertainty or losing sight of your end goal or your purpose, we turned to one another; your professors, your classmates, your loved ones; with more vulnerability than maybe you ever had with anyone before,” she said. “In those times, we leaned on one another to reconnect with our ‘why.’ And it was in these crucial moments that we saw each other for who we truly were, beyond that of a fellow classmate.”

She reflected on the importance of small moments in constructing those connections and forming a learning community focused on their goals and profession.

““We now understand that the late nights of studying, the early morning coffee runs –  or tea for those of you who prefer that – the laughs, the heartbreak, the fear of public speaking, the perseverance, that first ‘bad’ grade, the fear of failure, the joy in achievements and even the tears – mattered,” she shared.

Completing his master’s in counseling, Daniel Dominguez, M.A. ’25, spoke candidly of his own personal challenges after surviving a devastating car accident, calling his return to complete brain function and discharge from the hospital a miracle and thanking his family, faculty and classmates for their support through his recovery.

“Some philosophers have said you are the product of all your experiences. You are the result of your good days, your bad days and the help along the way. I want to recognize you for your background: academic, personal, tragic and beautiful. Lenoir-Rhyne has been enriched ‘by just you being you,’” he said.

He elaborated on how each individual’s unique combination of characteristics makes up the key to their long-term success – and appealed to the audience members’ appreciation of condiments with a metaphor.

“There is only one purpose you alone can fulfill: shall we say, bringing your secret sauce. No one else possesses your combination of history, values and skills. The only thing I can control is what I contribute – and what can’t be improved with a bit more sauce?”

Delivering his address on behalf of the undergraduate students, biology major Isaac Riggs ’25, recalled his evolution from a young child who believed his status as the school principal’s son gave him special privileges into a confident leader, serving as president of the Student Government Association and preparing to follow his dreams to dental school at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Using the word LOVE as an acronym, he shared four key lessons from his experience: Love Loudly, by celebrating life and people with passion; Offer Grace, by extending forgiveness to others and oneself; Value the Vision, by trusting the process even when the outcome isn’t clear; and Enjoy the Moment, by cherishing small, unplanned joys.

“When I came to LR, I didn’t realize I was building anything. I was just showing up, trying things, tagging along. But over time, it became something more,” said Riggs. “You never know the legacy you're leaving while you're in it. But if it’s built on love, it stands.”

That love for his classmates, his university and his work defined Riggs’ four years at Lenoir-Rhyne.

“What I’ll miss most about LR isn’t the classes or the place – it’s the people. The many conversations, the nods at practice, the many words of encouragement -- and even all the salutes, waves, and fist bumps going down the halls, or the amazing small talk in the cafeteria and at Joe’s – that’s what I’ll miss,” he said. “When you love loudly, the world gets brighter. And this place? It shines because of the love we’ve shared.”