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Lyco grads take motto into life after college

By Seth Nolan 3 min read

Lycoming College celebrated a graduating class Saturday that left behind a legacy of progress and evolution despite historic obstacles.

"You are different than any other class of the last century," said Dr. Kent Trachte, president of Lycoming College. "You've experienced 2 1/2 years of disrupted learning, but you are the ones who took the lead in relaunching student life on campus."

Trachte explained all the different groups the class of 2023 was essential in founding and maintaining, including those that worked for progress and toward achievements that are important to our time.

"You used your voices to bring change to the campus community," Trachte said. "You are a special group. Lycoming is a better place because of you."

Emma Wolfe was the student speaker for the class of 2023. She pointed out that her class was the last to have experience the college before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I've struggled to put into words our experience here," Wolfe said. "Every person is important to the story of our class, regardless of what you've done here."

Speaking toward the college's motto, "Think Deeply and Act Boldly," Wolfe said that acting boldly doesn't have to be the acts associated with the word.

"Acting boldly is rolling over and getting out of bed in the morning to go to class," she said. "Acting boldly is joining a club that you don't know anyone in...these actions are often missed because of their regularity… I challenge you to do one bold thing each day. Whether it's meeting someone new or moving to a new place."

Alicia L. Tillman graduated from Lycoming College in 1997 and will soon be starting her new position as Chief Marketing Officer for Delta Airlines.

In her commencement address, she spoke about the need to work hard and set goals, but be open to dreaming in life.

"Please consider doing less computing and more dreaming," Tillman said. "Less routine and more flights of fancy. This is how you'll learn the most about yourself."

When she graduated from Lycoming College she looked up a list of Fortune 500 companies and applied to the first one she saw in Philadelphia.

"With just two internships on my resume, I applied to the head of marketing and communications," Tillman said. "I did not get that job."

Tillman did, however, accept a spot on the company's management training program and in four years, she did accept that job. She's now beginning at her third Fortune 500 company.

"This graduation marks the completion of an education that prepares you to take on anything in the world," she said. "There are no excuses when you have an education."

She left the graduating class with some points of advice through her experience always working toward lofty goals.

"Practice respect and empathy, two words that carry more weight in today's working world than anything on your resume," Tillman said. "You've all been given this gift of an education. Don't waste it being someone you aren't. Search deeply within yourselves and decide who you want to be."

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