Graduate Chelsie Carver speaks on behalf of the Mid-Year Graduating Class of 2024.

December 09, 2024

VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University conferred 662 bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificates at its Mid-Year Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The Mid-Year Graduating Class of 2024 represents 56 of Indiana’s 92 counties, 36 states and Puerto Rico, and two countries. Eleven graduates attained an extraordinary milestone by completing their degrees with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Graduates from all VU campuses and sites, including the Vincennes Campus, American Sign Language and Deaf Studies Campus in Indianapolis, Aviation Technology Center in Indianapolis, Extended Studies, Early College Program, Indiana Military Program, VU Jasper, and Military Education were honored at Red Skelton Performing Arts Center. 

VU Provost Dr. Laura Treanor presided over the ceremony. VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson addressed the graduates.

In his greetings to the Class of 2024, he encouraged the graduates to continue to learn, grow, and “be curious.” Johnson also assigned the graduates “homework,” which emphasized being kind to others.

He said, “Being a kind person makes all the difference. Being kind is a strong position. It’s strength plus grace.”

Johnson added, “Being kind is the difference between perhaps jumping on somebody who is having a rough day and maybe giving them a little break. In this world today, we are so quick to act, judge, and comment or do whatever we need to do to make other people feel the anger or frustration we might be feeling. We must all take a step back and think, what if I hold back and use the strength I have to say something nice or do something nice? It could be a small gesture, letting someone cut in line in front of you at the grocery store because it looks like they have had a bad day or not pulling out in front of a car because it looks like they need to go ahead of you or saying hi to a stranger or picking something up when a person drops something to help them or to taking a moment just to say hello and look someone in the eye. Be kind to people. You’ve got to be smart, but you’re already smart because you are here. Being smart and kind is an excellent combination.”

Also speaking at the commencement was graduate Chelsie Carver, who shared her moving personal story. Carver, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Education – Special Education, Mild Intervention K-12, spoke on behalf of the graduating class and shared her experiences at VU as a parenting student, during which she juggled many roles while pursuing her educational goals.

“As a non-traditional student, I‘ve learned that the path to success is rarely a straight line,” Carver said. “For many of us the road to this moment was not simply by textbook or assignment, but by juggling responsibilities, overcoming obstacles, and navigating life’s twists and turns. After the passing of my dad, I moved back to attend Vincennes University. With two children and a third on the way, I didn’t know all the support that awaited me but I would not be here without some amazing professors. Some of us started college right after high school. Others returned after years of work, family, or life experience raising children, caring for loved ones or working jobs that didn’t aligned with our passions but helped us grow.”

Carver added, “Each of us carried a unique story with us into this university. Perhaps the most important part of this journey is not the destination but the courage and dedication it takes to keep moving forward no matter what life throws our way. We are proof that learning doesn’t stop at any age and growth is not bound by a clock. We can reinvent ourselves at any stage of life, and sometimes the second or third time around can be the most powerful.”

Watch an archived recording of 2024 Mid-Year Commencement on VU’s YouTube Channel

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