Commencement Words of Wisdom

William Woods EDU

“I came to William Woods looking for my life,” Dr. Gina (Gentry) Loudon told an audience of graduating students, faculty and parents the William Woods University commencement this May.

Dr. Gina as she is known to readers and followers is a conservative author, anchor, columnist, talk show host and frequent news commentator. She returned to her alma mater, William Woods University (class of 1990), as the 2015 commencement speaker.

While at William Woods, Loudon majored in psychology and minored in design and education. She was president of Psi Chi National Psychological Honor Society and a Distinguished Scholar in Psychology.

Loudon is a regular commentator on Fox News and Fox Business shows and talks about a concept she calls “policology,” the nexus of politics and psychology.

Among those in the audience at commencement were many education graduates — one of the most popular majors at William Woods University. Across Missouri and beyond, the call for new and dedicated teachers, principals, instructional leaders and other agents of change in education remains strong.

This fall, public school systems will employ about 3.1 million full-time-equivalent teachers across some 13,600 public school districts with over 98,300 public schools. As William Woods Undergraduates transition from one side of the classroom to the other, we offer a survey of commencement addresses from around the country, thanks to a new app from NPR, with wisdom that you may someday pass on to a new generation.

“Get ready for my generation to tell you everything that can’t be done…we should know…we’re the ones who didn’t do them.” STEPHEN COLBERT

Colbert is an American comedian, writer, producer, actor, media critic, and television host. He spoke to a Wake Forest University commencement audience on May 18, 2015.

“When you’re at your absolute best, you get hated on the most. KANYE WEST

West is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. He spoke to a Los Angeles Trade Technical College commencement audience on May 29, 2015.

“The typical human response in the face of the new is to ignore, mock or dismiss it.” JASON KILAR

Kilar is an American businessperson and a board of director for DreamWorks Animation. He was previously an Amazon executive and the CEO of Hulu. He spoke to a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill commencement audience on May 10, 2015.

“Don’t make the mistake of comparing your twisted-up insides to other people’s blown-dry outsides.” MARY KARR

Karr is an American poet, essayist and memoirist. She rose to fame in 1995 with the publication of her bestselling memoir The Liars’ Club. She spoke to a Syracuse University commencement audience on May 10, 2015.

“You summon the hero each day.” RON SUSKIND

Suskind is a Pulitzer Prize winning American journalist and best-selling author

He spoke to a Lewis & Clark College commencement audience on May 15, 2015.

“No generation has been as liberated and as connected by technology as yours. But also, no generation has been as enslaved and as distracted by technology.” ARIANNA HUFFINGTON

Huffington is a Greek-American author, syndicated columnist, and occasional actress. She is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post. She spoke to a Vassar College commencement audience on May 31, 2015.

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