Trine recognizes 400 degree candidates

Trine holds 126th commencement

 

ANGOLA, Ind. — Nearly 400 degree candidates were recognized during Trine University’s 126th commencement May 7 in Hershey Hall.

 

The ceremony opened with an invocation from C. Travis Wilhelm, university chaplain. Junior Sarah B. Darling then sang the National Anthem and was accompanied by the Trine University Brass Ensemble.

 

After welcoming people to the celebration, Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., bestowed an honorary doctorate in public service to commencement speaker Lou Holtz that, a Hall of Fame football coach and ESPN analyst.

 

“Trine University follows the long-established academic practice of recognizing, through the grant of honorary degrees, those distinguished individuals who have realized significant achievement in their respective fields or who have made substantial contributions to the work of the university,” Brooks said as he presented Holtz a certificate. “We have the privilege of recognizing such an outstanding individual today.”

 

Graduates, family and friends were then treated to the quick wit and candor of Coach Holtz, who served 26 seasons as a collegiate head coach. He authored three New York Times best-selling books, and is known for his reputation for turning pretenders into contenders.

 

“I’ve been 21, you’ve never been 74,” Holtz said, adding that life taught him many lessons in his time as a student, coach, father and husband.

 

“If you want to be happy for a lifetime, make a difference in other peoples’ lives,” Holtz said, giving the audience three rules for a happy life: 1. Do right; avoid wrong. 2. Do everything to the very best of your ability. 3. Show people you care.

 

As he bid the audience adieu, he received a standing ovation. Trine graduate and Robert B. Stewart Award recipient Christopher Armstrong then gave final words to his classmates, with “a little help from (his) friends,” the Beatles.

 

“So, ‘the long and winding road:’ Some are frightened by it. Some are excited by it, and some haven’t had time yet to think about it,” Armstrong said. “Whatever your thoughts may be, just know ‘we all want to change the world.’”