Elmhurst College Marks 140th May Commencement

Elmhurst College's Class of 2011 were given a rousing send off Saturday by speakers who told them to look back fondly and take hold of the future.

“Today you may feel a mixture of things,” Dr. Alan Ray told graduates at Saturday's ceremony. “Elation to be finished with college, and apprehensive about the future. Sad to be leaving familiar surroundings and good friends, but expectant that the future—whatever it holds—will be more a world of your making than it’s ever been.”

In her keynote address, Rev. Dr. Alice Hunt, president of Chicago Theological Seminary and professor of Hebrew Bible, encouraged the graduates to have a BALL: to be, act, live and love.

“You can live by someone else’s rules of integrity – but it will never quite work for you.  You must have your own, fully developed sense of integrity. Trust yourself. Be true to yourself,” she said.

Beside bachelor's degrees, the college also awarded master's degrees and certificates from the Elmhurst Life Skills Academy, a post-secondary educational experience for young adults with developmental disabilities.

Honorary degrees were awarded to Hunt, professor of physics Earl Swallow, art professor John Weber and optometrist Paul Yoh.

The 2011 graduating class included Genesis Jelkes, who was named Senior of the Year.