Marcia Gilliams

2006 Commencement Keynote Speaker

Thank you for those kind words Chancellor Prior. 

Distinguished Platform Party

Faculty

Students

Families

And Friends

 I’d like to begin by saying how honored and humbled I am to stand before you 24 years after sitting in probably the same seats you graduates are seated in today awaiting my diploma and the world that awaited me and the graduating class of 1982.  You are probably sharing some of the same feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, anticipation and hope for the future and also hope that the Commencement speaker will be brief so the celebrations can begin.  I promise that I felt the same 24 years ago and I will honor your desire and be brief.

 When Chancellor Pryor asked me to speak at this event several months ago, I was perplexed.  I was actually speechless and most of you who know me know this is very unusual.  I pondered on the idea after thinking; what do I have to say to encourage or motivate the graduating class of 2006?    These graduates are some of the brightest and most motivated students I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  Some will work in the business world, some in the medical field, some will teach, and others will continue their education in disciplines toward a Masters or a PHD.  What can I possible say that might be of interest?   Then Chancellor Pryor reminded me of the first meeting we shared.  He was interviewing for the position which he now holds and in my role as Vice Chair of the Board, I spent a few hours with him discussing his impressions and knowledge of the College, his background and qualifications for the position of Chancellor, and his goals and desires for the future of the College.  In return, he asked me about my involvement with the College and the role the College had played in my life.  As usual, I started talking about the opportunity the college had provided me by being located in the mountains of Southwest VA, so visible and accessible to the people of our region, and the genuine interest the administration and faculty displayed when I visited the campus. 

I continued with my story of which I am very proud to tell which is a story of a first generation family member to graduate from college.  You see, in high school I didn’t know if college was going to be a realistic goal so I took college prep courses along with secretarial courses.  That seems so odd to say in this day and age with technology as advanced as it is but 28 years ago when I graduated from high school, Word Perfect, Excel, Palm pilots, lap tops, etc. either were not invented or not readily available.  The only Guidance counselor at my high school did not have time for one on one sessions with each student to review our interests, abilities, and future options.  Fortunately, with assistance and guidance from various high school teachers, mentors, and with federal grant monies, scholarships monies, work study programs, and a lot of help from a lot of people, College won out and I was on my way.  Four years…that seems like a lot of time when you are 18 years old.  Trust me….four years is nothing as you age and the life changing events that occur over that time pave the way for a future filled with the hope of things possibly never even dreamed.  You see…I found that the HARDER the challenge the SWEETER the reward!!!  That is what THIS college provided me.  A challenge to come…a challenge to stay…and a challenge to graduate and embark on the journey of continuous learning.  Chancellor Pryor reminded me that this is the same story that many of you graduates and guests in the audience have experienced but that very often WE forget to tell this story.   We overlook the fact that many of us are first time family graduates with stories of tough times and hardships who rear families and multi-task in our everyday lives while studying as if this is no large feat but in fact it IS.  As we press onward the goals of a college education and a better life are huge steps which cannot be accomplished alone. 

As I look around I see many familiar faces of the present and past. People who are very special to me now and have been instrumental in why I am standing here speaking to you today.  Graduates, I’m sure you have many people who are very special to you here today also.  Parents, Spouses, Grandparents, siblings, children, other relatives, and friends…are here today to honor your accomplishment.  How proud and supportive they are and have been throughout your journey.  They are PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.  People who have gone above and beyond expectations to enable each of you to be in this position…graduating from The University of VA’s College at Wise. 

As I reflect on my personal and professional life to this point, I recall some of the PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.  Of course, my parents and siblings who sacrificed so much to allow me to be the first college graduate of our family.  I’m still trying to repay my brother for the Mustang car I basically stoled or borrowed  from him so I wouldn’t have to drive the families Blue Bomb Station wagons to class while living at home during my four years at the college. Thanks Gary…I hope the debt is almost paid.  Without supportive family members life would have been much tougher for me and I’m sure for most of you.

How about that business owner, community leader, and friend that allowed me to work a few hours between classes, leave for several hours for class, return to work for a few hours and work all day on Saturday’s at Dave’s Dept. Store.  The money earned from this job allowed me to have the extras that BEOG grants and others did not provide such gas money, clothing allowance, cafeteria allowance, etc.  I don’t think Bob Isaac, the owner of Dave’s Dept. Store who is with us today realized that he was one of those People who made a difference but he was…and Bob I thank you for MAKING A DIFFERENCE not only in my life but in the lives of others here at our college and at MECC where you serve on their board.   I  am not surprised that you are still making a difference. 

 The many professors some of whom are with us today such as my Mother in Law, Betty Gilliam, Betty Humphrey, Wayne Edwards, Bill Maxwell, Mike Donathon, Glenn Blackburn, Peter Yun, and the late Joe Scolnick, just to name a few;…encouraged and inspired me to dream and reach beyond my comfort level and introduced me to a world of higher education.  A world of art, history, literature, business, science, theater, travel, and beyond…a world outside of Southwest VA.  This may seem very naïve  for some  of you  here today but at the college at that time for me it was life changing….With hard work and effort  I  could be anything I wanted to be and go anywhere I wanted to go….what an opportunity.  I’m sure many of you graduates will remember certain classes, professors, and even lectures that were so eye opening and mind boggling that time cannot erase or fade their impact.  I experienced this once again on a recent trip to Italy.  You see my Mother in Law was my Art History professor here at the college.  I did not know she had a son nor did I know that she would be my Mother in Law when I took her class.  I can say I did get an A!!! Thanks Mom Gilliam. As a business major I had to take an Art class and seeing as how I cannot draw a straight line with a ruler, I decided to take Art History.  Easy A, I thought.  I didn’t want to miss up my GPA and how hard and enlightening could Art History be?     As I stood in the Uffizi Gallery for the second time in my life last month in Florence Italy, I can still recall the passion that Mom Gilliam displayed the first time she illustrated Michelangelo’s statue of David.  Her lectures and slide shows of Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli and others are still imprinted in my mind… IMPACTING…LIFE CHANGING…

I recall another memorable experience that I shared with Michael Donathon, of the Humanities Dept and a group of us touring Italy several years ago on a college sponsored trip.  One of Dr. Donathon’s students was inspired to break into a beautiful song in the Baptistry at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which mesmerized all of us.  The next day we toured six duomos and Bill Maxwell also of the Humanities Dept.  gave fascinating and factual histories of each.   PASSION….CONVICTION…from people who made a difference…

And Betty Humphreys, a professor and person whom I have always admired, interviewed me for the position of Office Manager in a very unique class entitled “Model Office Simulation”.  This was a fascinating business class where each student interviewed for a position with ACE Pineapple Co. in the various roles of a real business.  Thinking I wanted to be in management, I interviewed for the top job in the organization.  I was very pleased when I secured the position until I realized that part of my job and GRADE was to evaluate MY staff and fellow students .  I guess you can say that I wasn’t very poplar that last semester of college when my new co-workers missed class or messed up in the Accounts Receivable Dept. while I had authorized Accounts Payable beyond our means.  SHE made a difference and the lessons I learned in that class continue to make a difference in my daily work life 24 years later. 

In my opinion, the collegiate experience should never be just about classes, lectures, exams, etc…all that academic stuff.  My experience with our College’s Athletic program taught me that heroes and supporters come in all shapes and sizes and can mold ones life in a very positive and well rounded way outside the classroom.  I found this very true as a member of the Lady Cavalier Tennis Team.    I learned that our PE instructor who coached our tennis team and the lady’s basketball team turned out to be much more than just our coach.  Doris Hubbard was our bus driver, our tour director, and our biggest fan on the sidelines as we toured the region and state playing tennis on a budget of about $5.00 a day for food for each team member.   She cared….she made difference and she helped stretched $5.00 farther than I have EVER been able to do. 

Of course of all these experiences could not have occurred without the help of donors and friends of the college who believed in our region and its students.  I now serve on the Board of the College with a lady whose family offered a scholarship that I received assisting me with financial aid to attend the college.  The Kennedy Piggly Wiggly Scholarship awarded by Posie Rigg and Kent Rigg gave me financial aid but more than that it encouraged and assured me that others believed in me and my cause. 

At the time, they cared enough to give and unknowingly became PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE in my life..

As I entered my professional life after college, I was provided the opportunities  by various employers who were willing to take a chance on me and my newly founded ideas and goals.  They were encouraging and inspiring while providing positive leadership to guide and direct along with principles used in the everyday life of good ethical businessmen and women.  I have been truly fortunate to work with an abundance of quality co-workers, staff, and partners who share the same belief of doing a job or task to their best ability for their clients and their needs.   Again….a difference has been made in my life by people not even realizing their actions.

As you have realized by now, I am an extremely blessed and fortunate person.  I experience a great work and personal life coupled with  a volunteer life that is very rewarding.  Volunteering and giving of one’s time encourages each of us to see how easy we really have it compared to others and to select a cause or causes that are near and dear to our hearts.  I have several serious “VOLUNTEER LOVES”.  One that I will mention briefly is St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  I look in the audience and I see my lovely niece Madison Adams who was diagnosed in 2004 with AML.     Thank God she went into remission soon after treated and is over 2 years cancer free at age 11.  I also see Revs. John & Martha McCarroll, our pastors and friends  who provided spiritual guidance and support during the 6 ½ months in Memphis, TN.  If you don’t think an organization such as St. Jude or your church can make a difference…I’m here to tell you otherwise  How   different our lives are from two years ago. 

Now in the role as Co-Chair of our Capital Campaign with Hunter Smith of Charlottesville, I am finding more doors and opportunities opening, allowing me to tell of another love of mine…a love for this college and its importance in the history  and economics of our region and the lives of its students.  We have just celebrated our 50th year another milestone in the history of what was a labor of love and passion sparked by three men in the Wise Inn and many supporters in the community at that time.  PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE and are still making a difference.   People wanting to give of their time and money to the college in various ways in order to continue this legacy and give others the chance to accomplish their goal.

A friend of mine gave me this quote recently which speaks volumes as to one’s impact on others…As Frederick Buechner, a theologist and teacher so eloquently stated:

THE LIFE I TOUCH FOR GOOD OR ILL WILL TOUCH ANOTHER LIFE,

AND THAT IN TURN ANOTHER, UNTIL WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TREMBLING STOPS OR IN WHAT FAR PLACE MY TOUCH WILL BE FELT.

As I have been told many times recently in my preparation of these comments, keep it short and remember the graduates won’t remember anything you say.  I BEG TO DIFFER… I CHALLENGE each of you to remember one thing…WHAT ever profession or vocation you select in YOUR walk of life DO IT with determination and aspiration to be the best…whether in an entry level position, middle management, or as a CEO…do the task set before you as the professional YOU are and keep this attitude in your personal,  volunteer and civic life by being A PERSON WHO MAKES A DIFFERENCE. 

To the Class of 2006:

CONGRATULATIONS

GOOD LUCK

AND GOD BLESS.