Congratulations to Our Spring and Summer 2021 Honors College Graduates

Congratulations to the 2021 WMU Lee Honors College graduates. A little advice as you travel on your next journey, remember to always be open to change and don't hide from your mistakes, own up to them.
 ~Jennifer Clements (Budget Analyst)

I wish you all every happiness and success, however you define it, as you go out into the world. Remember that every person you meet has something new to teach you, as long as you're willing to listen. Go forth, be kind, stay humble.
~Jennifer Townsend (Executive Assistant, LHC alum)

Congratulations to our spring graduates! I am very fortunate to be in my role at the honors college because a big part of what I do is to share and celebrate your achievements. I've truly enjoyed learning more about your milestones at WMU and the amazing paths you'll be embarking on once you graduate. I'm a proud Bronco alum as well and one piece of advice I'd share is to never limit yourself. Though my undergrad degree is in English, I've primarily worked and grown in the field of marketing because I pursued opportunities that interested me and because I possessed skills that transferred well to this field, thanks to my WMU education. The path I've followed may not be the one I originally anticipated being on, but it's been the right path for me. I know your junior and senior years were not as anyone would have anticipated, but you've persevered and accomplished extraordinary things. Celebrate your success. You've earned it.
  ~Bethany Gauthier (Marketing Specialist)

Congratulations to each of you on your graduation from WMU and the Lee Honors College! When asked to share some advice with you based on my own experiences transitioning to the world after undergrad, I couldn't help but think about the idea of structure. We're often taught throughout our academic lives that you follow specific steps to continue down a path and in many scenarios, that works perfectly well. But at some point sooner or later (if not already!), something will throw you off that path and you may be left wondering what to do next. During those times, be open-minded to the new and unexpected, lean on others for support, and take advantage of opportunities--even if they are something you never envisioned for yourself. It is a life-long endeavor to learn about yourself, others, and the world around us. Take it one step at a time, pivot as you need to, and enjoy the journey. Best wishes on your own next steps after WMU!    ~Katie Fox (Academic Advisor)

We are so proud of you--congratulations! And as you exit WMU, please keep in mind these thoughts. First, preserve your sense of curiosity. Most likely you will not finish your career where you started, so it is important to question once in a while what the next opportunity may be for you. While exploring your new adventure, don’t be afraid to take risks and fail. Success is never linear. Second, help others to achieve their dreams--in any way, shape, or form that you are able to throughout your career. After all, we have gotten to where we are because of the support of many people, some of whom we don’t even know—as, for example, people who donated money to a scholarship that we benefited from, or people who believed in us and gave their time and knowledge and support to assist us in achieving our dream of graduating from college. Finally, stay in touch with us, send us your news and stories. In the LHC we get excited when we hear something about one of our alumni. You will forever be part of us, your LHC family.
 ~Irma López (Interim Dean)

I still vividly remember recruiting you and have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside you as your advisor. It is the greatest privilege of my career as an educator to personally witness your growth and greatness.  A lot about the last year has not gone to plan. Not only have you successfully overcome all the obstacles common to completing a college degree, but you also did so during a world-wide pandemic! We are so incredibly proud of each of you.

You have all heard enough of my advice over the last few years, so let me offer two lessons better articulated by others. I hope you all continue onward with purpose and kindness.

"Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty..." - Teddy Roosevelt
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
~Anthony Helms, WMU '07, ’14 (Interim Assistant Dean)