{"id":1022,"date":"2020-01-31T16:32:47","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T16:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/test-blog-template\/?p=1022"},"modified":"2025-03-27T16:59:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T20:59:58","slug":"wilmu-graduation-class-of-2020-the-class-of-determination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2020\/01\/31\/wilmu-graduation-class-of-2020-the-class-of-determination\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU Graduation Class of 2020: The Class of Determination"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column1022_adc7eb-7a dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f\"]{font-size:1.5rem;line-height:30px;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#808080;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading1022_b8a736-0f\">If one word could describe Wilmington University\u2019s Class of 2020, it would be determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Determination to work hard, press on, and do whatever it takes to reach a dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On January 26, Wilmington University awarded over 1,160 academic degrees during its 49th Commencement ceremony at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. It was the first time the university hosted its graduation ceremonies simultaneously with two occurring during each timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Class of 2020 includes graduates from 40 different countries representing Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, with the furthest graduate living in South Korea. The graduates range from 20 to 73 years old, and more than 500 completed their degrees entirely online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The theme of determination was apparent in the commencement addresses given throughout the day. The speakers shared their WilmU experiences and reflected on how faculty and staff encouraged them to never give up. While facing the demands of everyday life, each student pressed on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gwyn Parris-Atwell, a Doctorate of Nursing graduate for WilmU\u2019s College of Health Professions, has a long, beloved history at WilmU. She received her bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s in Nursing from the university, and the graduation ceremony marked her fourth and final degree, a doctorate from WilmU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Colonel in the Delaware Air National Guard, Parris-Atwell shared how tough it can be balancing the military with academics, and how WilmU remained flexible throughout her journey. \u201cMilitary students have unpredictable schedules,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe typically can\u2019t cancel training or deployments to attend college\u2026 Each time I had a conflict with my course schedule, instructors asked me how they could help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Timothy Malloy of Myrtle Beach, a Bachelor of Science graduate in Liberal Studies, delivered one of the addresses during the ceremony for WilmU\u2019s College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He shared his history of struggling with academics and sobriety, and how determined he was to make a change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI approached school much like I approached my sobriety: one class at a time,\u201d Malloy stated. While at WilmU, he earned Dean\u2019s List honors and was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society. At the end of his address, Malloy concluded, \u201cUse whatever fear you feel to propel you forward. Never give up on your dreams. Don\u2019t quit. And never let doubt ever creep into your thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:250px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4 figure{max-width:250px;}.kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4 .image-is-svg, .kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image1022_6f12cb-f4\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"364\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20200126-Jan2020Grad-7d2-5416-777x1024-1-364x480.jpg\" alt=\"January graduate walks across the stage and cheers\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-1023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20200126-Jan2020Grad-7d2-5416-777x1024-1-364x480.jpg 364w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20200126-Jan2020Grad-7d2-5416-777x1024-1-190x250.jpg 190w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20200126-Jan2020Grad-7d2-5416-777x1024-1-768x1012.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20200126-Jan2020Grad-7d2-5416-777x1024-1.jpg 777w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Commencement speakers also included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Brandy Cooper, Doctorate of Education Leadership and Innovation in the College of Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Keonna Freeman, Master of Science in Applied Family Science in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Vince Pavic, Doctorate of Business Administration in the College of Business<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Connor Ryland, Bachelor of Science in Video and Motion Graphics in the College of Technology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Supporting that determination to succeed is only one of the ways WilmU worked for these graduates, and many just like them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWilmington University provided the traditional and nontraditional students among us with the necessary tools we\u2019d need to excel in our respective fields,\u201d Keonna Freeman reflected in her address. \u201cThe quality of programs, the flexibility of online and traditional classes, the knowledgeable, selfless faculty, and the reputation of the University\u2019s 50-plus years of providing opportunity, all confirm that we chose an awesome university\u2026We should be proud to call Wilmington University our alma mater.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations, Class of 2020!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If one word could describe Wilmington University\u2019s Class of 2020, it would be determination. Determination to work hard, press on, and do whatever it takes&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":15308,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[357],"class_list":["post-1022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifewilmu","tag-commencement"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":163,"label":"LIFE@WILMU"}],"post_tag":[{"value":357,"label":"Commencement"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20200126-Jan2020Grad-7d2-5945-1024x683-1-720x480.jpg",720,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rebecca Slinger","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rebecca\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":163,"name":"LIFE@WILMU","slug":"lifewilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":720,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":90,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":163,"category_count":90,"category_description":"","cat_name":"LIFE@WILMU","category_nicename":"lifewilmu","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":357,"name":"Commencement","slug":"commencement","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":914,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1022"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1022\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17557,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1022\/revisions\/17557"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}