College stereotypically conjures images of 18-year-olds moving into dorms, traipsing huge campuses and “following a pretty straight line” to graduation.

“But that’s not the only version of college. For many of us, that was never our version at all,” business major Cole Kilboy told SMC’s Outstanding Graduate Reception April 28 in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus.

Kilboy, from St. Joseph, has been accepted by the University of Michigan and awaits word from the University of Notre Dame. He plans to study philosophy, then attend law school.

“Community college asks something much different of its attendees,” Kilboy said. “At SMC, a lot of students don’t arrive with perfect timing, perfect confidence, perfect circumstances. A lot of us came here while working jobs, helping family, raising kids, commuting, changing direction and trying to prove to ourselves that we were still capable of something more.”

“Some of us just came here hoping to figure things out,” he said. “Some of us came here knowing exactly what we wanted. But all of us, in one way or another, chose to keep going, and that deserves to be recognized.

“Being a graduate from a place like SMC is a lot more than passing classes,” Kilboy said. “It means showing up when life would have given you every excuse not to. It means figuring things out with no blueprint. It means balancing deadlines with responsibilities people may never fully see. And it means building a future, often while still trying to rebuild parts of yourself.”

“It’s also about the people who made that possible,” Kilboy said. “To the parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, children, friends, professors, advisers, staff members, thank you for encouraging people when they needed it most ... no graduate gets to a moment like this completely alone.”

Reiterating his gratitude for faculty and staff, Kilboy added, “Your impact goes far beyond delivering course material or making sure our campus looks as good as it does. You create opportunities, recognize potential, provide us with an inspiring environment and give people a reason to believe that they belong in rooms they once thought were out of reach. That matters more than any of you get to hear.”

“One of the most meaningful things about a place like SMC is that success here is not often one-dimensional,” Kilboy said. “Some students are heading straight into the workforce. Some have already had careers and are building something new. Some are trying again after years of thinking school wasn’t for them.

“Some are the first in their families to reach this point. All of those stories belong here. That’s what makes our cohort strong. It’s not because we all walked the same path, it’s because we kept going even when the path wasn’t there. What you build here is proof that you can work, adapt and keep going. It’s also proof that your circumstances never get the final word on your future.

“There will be people in life who underestimate community college students and who think smaller schools equal smaller stories,” he said. “Let them be wrong. The people in this room know what it means to earn something the hard way. We know what it means to keep showing up before the results are visible. And we know what it feels like when people do not respect where we’re coming from.

“That kind of strength does not leave us after graduation. This is where it starts to become permanent, so be proud of the work that you did, be proud of the version of yourself that refused to quit and be proud of the fact that whatever comes next, you’re not starting from nothing. Remember, if you have the capacity to do good, you have the responsibility to do good. I can’t wait to see what you guys do next.”

“I don’t know that I can follow him,” Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Services Dr. Melissa Kennedy said. “You’ve done good when you make a 2008 (SMC) graduate cry.”

Kennedy and Interim Dean of the School of Arts, Science and Business Robin Shipkosky read honor graduates’ messages and presented certificates and portfolios.

Manager of Development and Executive Director of the SMC Foundation Board Emily Schrock reported, “In the past year alone, more than 1,000 students achieved scholarships totaling more than $1 million.

Tom Ellspermann, Terry Groth and Patty Patano represented the 23-member foundation board.

One hundred and 20 students graduating with honors at SMC’s 59th Commencement May 9 were recognized for earning cumulative grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher: Atyanna Alford, Nicholas Alvarado, Christian Anderson, Serenity Bake, Jack Bertrand, Brian Bookout, Kaylee Bradshaw, John Bullard, Michael Burks, Madelyn Bush, Caleb Christian, Diamond Collett, Tia Cornelius, Collin Cozadd, Travis Danelski, Mariah Dickens-Mantey, Silas Dobson, Jamie Dotson, Kurt Elkins, Liam Emerick, Alex Facundo, Kaitlin Ferrell, Arly Fitzgerald, Tara Fosdick, Tasha Foust, Amanda Frye, Abraham Furrer, Alexa Garcia, Phillip Gray, Sara Beth Greenway, Rebekah Griffiths, Erika Gunn, Brett Hardesty, Lauren Hart, Nevaeh Hemminger, Destiney Hensley, Talan Hiemstra, Javon Hill, Tyler Hippensteel and Sophia Hojara.

Also: Avarie Hood, Alexander Horvath, Carter Houseworth, Hunter Hurley, Amelia Hurst, Makayla Jackmovich, Clayton Johanson, Annabelle Johnson, Jennifer Jones, Danielle Kavanagh, Mary Kenney, Cole Kilboy, Dallas Kirchman, Brody Knepple, Anika Lambdin-Kron, Jaylen Lanier, Grace Layman, Breanne Lee, Lillian Lester, Alexis Lewis, Ivan Lopez, Lauren Lovell, Sophia Lutz, Lauren Mackey, Kaleb McCombs, Austin McCreary, Jenna McGann, Dylan McLean, Meredith McWilliams, Marina Mendez, Elizabeth Michelakis, Kaylyn Moore, Victoria Morris, Cailey Myers, Sarah Nelson, Elizabeth Pachay, Thorin Palmer, Keegan Parsons, Kayla Patzer and Hindramalai Pawa.

And: Allyson Pettit, Jeremiah Preston, Joanna Pugh, Isabell Ramsey, Travis Rehborg, Jaylee Reybuck, Mikayla Reynolds, Carlie Ritchie, Stephanie Rodriguez, Emil Rydin, Dominick Sandoval, Lauren Schaer, Isabella Scheer, Amie Schutz, Clay Scoggin, Amani Scott, Gwendolyn Sexton, Bailee Shambaugh, Tyler Shindeldecker, Adrian Sirbu, Caydance Sluder, Sidney Smith, Samuel Stellmach, Cairra Stephens, Siara Stoddard, Brooke Strefling, Daijah Strickland, Natalie Tappenden, Abbie Tilley, Liz Van De Putte, Mara VanBuren, Tereza Varner, Dalton Wells, Jessica Wickey, Ethan Woger-Burrows, Audrey Wolf, Kiara Woods, Katelyn Young, Madeline Young and Katie Zebell.

President Dr. Klint Pleasant and Chief Academic and Assurance Officer Dr. Jeff 365bet体育在线投注_365体育官网-365体育欢迎您ls welcomed guests.

“With high achievement,” Pleasant said, “comes a heightened sense of responsibility. The more knowledge you have and the smarter you are ought to create a little more humility and thoughtfulness. I hope you don’t see this as the end, but rather the beginning of a lifelong journey to become a lifelong learner.

“This piece of paper isn’t an opportunity to puff up and be more arrogant, but rather an opportunity to reflect on how you want to move through life. You just know a little bit more about all the things that you still don’t know, and that makes you really  smart.”