UIS celebrates graduation of 2023 class

For the vast majority of the 700-plus students graduating from the University of Illinois Springfield Saturday, they spent much of their time at the Springfield campus learning the skills that they need to succeed in their careers and building the kind of lifelong relationships that only college could provide.

Brayden Bledsoe, on the other hand, spent his two years as a UIS student taking online courses in public administration back home in Galesburg, Illinois. It was the online courses that made the school so attractive to him after he graduated from Carl Sandburg College in his hometown.

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"They were the only ones to offer public administration online," Bledsoe said. "This (ceremony) is actually the first time I've ever been to Springfield."

Those online courses – and UIS' role in facilitating them – were a key part of the 52nd commencement ceremony for the school, with communications professor emeritus Raymond Schroeder being honored for his role in starting the first online courses back in 1997.

Schroeder received an honorary doctorate, something that humbled him considering the length of time that he spent at UIS – his career dates back to 1972, when the school was Sangamon State University – and how the online learning program has evolved since it started over 25 years ago.

"Online learning is such an important part of the University of Illinois Springfield," Schroeder said. "Currently, 38% of our students are enrolled in an online degree program, so that's a big piece (of the school). Without those students who are in other countries, coast to coast and in Illinois, we would be less than what we are."

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Providing him with the doctorate and presiding over the ceremony for the first time was Janet Gooch, the school's chancellor who arrived July 1 with a vision for the school that she's busy implementing. Gooch said that she was satisfied with how her first year has shaped up, with progress being made in academic reorganization, program development, revitalizing certain curriculums and in diversity initiatives, along with major moves being made on construction projects such as their new library commons and the downtown Innovation Center.

"With the Innovation Center, there's such an opportunity for UIS to collaborate with the city of Springfield, build small businesses, partner with our downtown organizations and really have that collaboration to advance the city of Springfield and the mission and vision of UIS," Gooch said. "With the library and commons, that's going to be a really valuable space for our students. It will be situated next to our Student Union and it will be a hub of learning and academic support."

In the build-up to the ceremony, plenty of feelings were exuded by those participating, whether it was receiving a diploma like Bledsoe or being up on stage like Gooch and Schroeder. For Bledsoe, he felt that it was a good goal to have achieved, feeling a sense of relief as he stood with his fellow students in the halls of the Bank of Springfield Center.

"It's a good checked box to get off the list," Bledsoe said. "I've been waiting a while to get this done. A lot of difficulties have come between graduating high school and getting here, but it's a big weight off of my shoulders."

Gooch had plenty of excitement as she prepared to send off the graduating students on to new challenges and new possibilities, but there was also the sense of nervousness one gets when doing something for the very first time.

"Commencement is the best time of year," Gooch said. "It's why we're here, to have students celebrate all of their accomplishments over their time at UIS. I will confess, I'm a little nervous. I want it to go well for everyone today."

LaNise Kirk, 46, of Roodhouse, chosen in an audition to deliver the student address, told fellow graduates to embrace second or third acts in life. Kirk, who earned a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, is battling a rare form of cancer, angiosarcoma, for a second time.

"Second acts are exciting, and third acts are satisfying," said Kirk, a mother of three. "And when it comes to the time of your final act, embrace it with honesty, humility, and gratitude. Don’t forget to be sure and take a bow before the curtain falls."

Schroeder reflected on who he was then and who he is now - someone who continues to use his knowledge of communications to explore the world around us and how people connect with each other. While he noted that he travels to plenty of universities around the world, UIS will always hold a special place in his heart.

"UIS has been a great place to work," Schroeder said. "I go to more than a dozen (other college) campuses every year. None are better than UIS."

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Class of 2023 honored in UIS graduation ceremony