KWC graduates class of 158 on Saturday morning

The sanctuary of Owensboro Christian Church was packed full of friends and family supporting the more than 150 students graduating as members of the class of 2024 from Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC) on Saturday morning.

KWC’s current president Dr. Tom Mitzel told the class that this has been the most resilient class that he has had the pleasure of overseeing.

“Most of you didn’t get a traditional high school graduation because of the pandemic. And even when you came to KWC that first semester under strict protocols, you adapted to the new rules and came away from the experience wonderfully,” Mitzell said to the class.

Mitzell said that each year of his presidency at KWC “just got better.”

Mitzell entered the head leadership position at the college right before the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020. He’ll be retiring and saying goodbye at the end of 2024 as the school’s current provost, Dr. James Cousins, takes on the role of president of the college.

“Your adult lives are just beginning and look at everything you’ve already been through, from the economic collapse in 2008 and then the pandemic in 2020. Look how far you’ve come,” Mitzel said as he addressed the students.

Mitzell recognized that the class of 2024 is different because this is the most thoughtful and selfless class of graduates that he’s come across.

“Yes. You’ll use your degrees to earn money. But, while you’re doing that, keep that empathy for others that you’ve shown while here at KWC,” Mitzel encouraged.

Mitzell also encouraged the graduating class to “celebrate today’s accomplishments, but don’t forget where you started, here at KWC, as a Panther. You’ll always be a Panther. I love you all, and thank you.”

Braxton Shelton, who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in legal studies with minors in criminal justice and political science, said that she enjoyed her experience at KWC.

“The facility and staff at KWC have always been so supportive of my goals and my dreams,” she said.

Shelton plans to study law at the University of Kentucky in the fall.

“I’ve met friends that I know I’ll have for life. I’ve learned what it means to be a Panther,” Shelton said.

Fred Wright, a member of KWC’s class of 1980 and the chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees, took to the stage to thank Mitzell for his time at KWC and to welcome Cousins to the president’s position. Wright also emphasized the importance of the KWC experience to the graduates.

“Remember that you’re never alone because you have the friends, professors and mentors you discovered during your stint at KWC,” Wright said. “My experience at KWC changed my life for the better and I encourage you to keep up with the friends you’ve met here along the way.”

Gavin Price, a resident of McLean County, had a bit of a non-traditional experience at the college, and he admits that he was nervous at the beginning of his KWC journey because of that.

Price enrolled at KWC as an 18-year-old freshman, straight out of high school, but, because he had completed early college classes at Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) while still in high school, he started his college experience as a junior.

“I was nervous that I wouldn’t get the full college experience,” Price confessed. “I kinda used my junior year as a way to get comfortable with college life and my course load and judge my capabilities as a student.”

But then, as a senior, Price became involved in student government and other campus organizations.

“I helped to re-establish the psychology club,” he said.

Price graduated today, magna cum laude, with a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice and plans to attend graduate school at Murray State University in the fall.

“I can’t say enough great things about the faculty and staff at KWC that have just made my experience at school great,” Price said. “They’ve also helped me realize that I can be a leader and helped prepare me for the future.”

Dr. James Cousins, the school’s current provost who will take reins as president of KWC at the beginning of 2025, introduced the class of 2024’s valedictorian, Owensboro’s Angel King.

King previously graduated from Apollo High School where, according to Cousins, she was a distinguished student and athlete. She graduated today with a bachelors of arts degree and a summa cum laude distinction.

King was noted among her peers and listeners of KWC’s radio station as “that 70s girl.” When she met with her mentor to discuss joining KWC radio, she said she wanted to “break out of her comfort zone”, and she encouraged her peers to do the same.

“If an opportunity opens a door, even if you might not be completely comfortable with it, take it. You never know when that opportunity will change your life,” King said.

Students also heard from speaker Dee M. Robinson who emphasized to the graduates the importance of “believing in yourself.” Robinson also spoke about the “Bannister effect”, the mental shift that occurs when a significant barrier is broken while demonstrating to others that what was once thought to be impossible is within reach.

“Don’t listen to the wrong voices,” Robinson encouraged. “And do not waste a moment of your time living behind the words and judgment of others. Erase that self-doubt and gain that confidence to believe in yourself.”

Robinson received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. She is the founder and chief executive officer of Robinson Hill, Inc., a concessions management firm specializing in retail and restaurants at airports and other non-traditional venues across the county. She also runs GT Spirits Company, the makers of Good Trouble Bourbon. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and also has a bachelors of arts in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, along with completing the Building a High Performing Business Executive Education Program from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.

KWC proudly celebrated the accomplishments of 158 graduates. The largest number of graduates received degrees in business administration. The youngest graduate was a dual-credit high school student receiving their associates degree at the age of 18 while the oldest graduate was 48. Students from 17 different states walked the line to receive their degrees.