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WVU-P honors its winter grads

PARKERSBURG — During its winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, West Virginia University at Parkersburg presented 367 certificates, associate degrees and bachelor degrees to 320 students.

“None of us reached this moment alone,” said WVU-P President Chris Gilmer in his welcoming remarks at the ceremony.

“All of your academic efforts have been preparing you for this moment,” said Austin Grimmett, President of the Student Government Association.

“I want one moment in time when I am more than I thought I could be; when all of my dreams are a heartbeat away; and the answers are all up to me,” Shirlethia Franklin, former White House liaison and senior United States Department of Justice official, quoted from the Whitney Houston song during her commencement address at Saturday’s ceremony.

Franklin told everyone of her background, starting as a small town girl with limited education opportunities. She then rose to be accepted into Tougaloo College, a private, historically black liberal arts institution, where she graduated valedictorian of her class in 2004, and later in 2007 from Howard University of Law in the top 10 percent of her class.

“The path to success is a path paved with hard work, long hours and tough sacrifices,” Franklin said, “but it is all worth it for that one moment, when you are more than you ever thought you could be.

“This is an amazing moment in your lives, but only a moment. It is a mere beginning, and it is up to you to decide how you want to use this moment; what kind of life you will build from it,” she said.

Franklin closed her speech with one last quote from the Whitney Houston song “One Moment.”

“Your finest day is yet unknown.”

In addition to the student degree presentations, the college also award an honorary degree to previous WVU-P Board of Governors member Curtis Miller and to Franklin as well.

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