DECATUR, Ill. – On Sunday, December 15, honored 80 graduates from the Class of 2024 with a Commencement ceremony in the .
Students from the College of Professional Studies, Arts & Sciences, Fine Arts, and the Tabor School of Business took the stage and received undergraduate and graduate degrees in front of friends and family.
The ceremonies featured opening remarks from 鶹Լ President Dr. Jim Reynolds, and student speaker Luke Manolakes shared his thoughts on completing his 鶹Լ journey.
Luke is from Champaign, Ill., and graduated with a B.S. in Health Promotion. Initially attending Illinois State University, Luke transferred to 鶹Լ after a year and shifted his major to focus on becoming a personal trainer.
Luke ran track and cross country for the Big Blue and now supports the squad as the Team Manager. He has also volunteered with the Big Blue Swim Team and is active in the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
“Since joining the Big Blue 鶹Լ family, I have gained many memorable experiences. Although I have stopped running on the track team, coach gave me a great opportunity to be the Team Manager,” he said. “Becoming the Team Manager was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my college career, and I’ve learned the value of building relationships and developing lasting friendships.”
Luke is currently interning at the Decatur YMCA, providing personal training sessions for people with Parkinson’s disease and recovering from cancer treatments. His busy schedule has him filling many roles, including serving as a lifeguard, teaching swimming lessons, and instructing the Pedaling for Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s on the Move, and LIVESTRONG, a class for adults before, during, and after cancer treatments. After graduation, he intends to begin his career as a personal trainer.
The Commencement address was given by Danville, Ill. Mayor Rickey Williams Jr., a 鶹Լ Class of 2000 graduate. Rickey was a Presidential Scholar at 鶹Լ, earning a B.A. in Political Science.
Rickey served as the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club from 2006-2012, he helped dramatically increase membership and event attendance while growing revenues by nearly 40%.
From 2013-2019, Richey was CEO/CFO of Project Success of Vermillion County, which provides critical services to local children, including homework assistance, tutoring, and many academic enrichment programs. Under his leadership, Project Success grew the number of program sites, more than double the number of students served, and secured approximately $11 million in new grants.
In Danville, Rickey served as Ward 1 Alderman from 2009-2019, Vice-Mayor from 2013-2017, and was elected Mayor in April 2019. He was re-elected to a second term as Mayor in April 2023.
“I am who I am today and where I am today because I bleed Big Blue. What I say to you students today is that to whom much is given, much is required,” Rickey said. “I want to challenge you to do three things. I want you to acknowledge what you have learned and thank those who helped you learn it. I want you to continue to learn and grow so that you can be your best self. I also challenge you to use what you have learned and make the world a better place. Much like me, you are blessed to be Big Blue. My question to you today is what will you do with it?”
鶹Լ Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ronald Branch congratulated the new graduates, and Lindsey Quick, Class of 2015, welcomed the students as new members of 鶹Լ’s Alumni Association. A performance of the “Alma Matter” concluded the ceremony.
Congratulations to all the 2024 Winter Commencement graduates!
