Before more than 200 graduates of Wabash Valley College prepared to finish an educational chapter in their lives, commencement speaker Louise Acree added a few end notes to help start on the next page.

&#8220You don't need to do everything today, but you do need to do something every day," Acree, retiring director of public information and marketing. &#8220Far too many people spend their lives reading the menu instead of enjoying the banquet."

Acree's words of encouragement echoed throughout the James S. Spencer Sports Center at Friday night's 44th Annual WVC Commencement. Along with providing some words of advice from personal experiences, she included material from well-known publications such as Rudyard Kipling's poem, &#8220If," and Robert Fulghum's &#8220All I Ever Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Her own Fulghum version of life was everything she needed to know she learned from Noah's Ark. The 11 areas of life lessons Acree listed in relation to the Biblical story included &#8220Don't miss the boat," &#8220Remember that we are all in the same boat" and &#8220Build your future on high ground."

While leaving the podium, Acree received a surprise plaque from WVC President Dr. Harry Benson for her 45 years of service to the college.

Further encouraging words to the Class of 2006 came from Benson, as well as Kevin Williams of the IECC Board of Trustees. On a more personal level with the 200-plus caps and gowns masking the center's basketball court was the Student Response from Sara Abby, Student Senate president. She stressed to her fellow classmates that confidence was built by their friendship, and helped in making success out of college challenges.

&#8220Now we have to face the challenges that await us," she added.

Honors

Graduates honored with academic recognition and scholarships included Shaunnon Flickinger with the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, the Dr. Patricia Ann Owens Transfer Scholarship and the WVC Foundation's James T. Watson Engineering and Science Scholarship.

Other Foundation scholarship winners included Hillary Seaton for the Charles S. Tate Scholarship; Audrey York for the Lowenstein Merit Award; Bryan Whitney Belt for the Robert and Norma Bethards Scholarship; and Sara Abby for the Walter F. Holland Jr. Scholarship.

Ann Ochs earned the Daniel P. Edwards Career and Technical Scholarship.

Faculty members recognized Friday were Dr. Owens as Outstanding Transfer Faculty, and Edwards for Outstanding Career and Technical Faculty.

The faculty members were chosen for this honor by the Student Senate.

Degrees and certificates

Degrees awarded during Friday night's commencement included a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration to Diana Christie (summa cum laude) from Franklin University.

Other degrees included Associate in Arts; Associate in Science; Associate in Science and Arts; and Associate in General Studies.

Specific professional field areas under the Associate in Applied Science included administration of justice/corrections; administrative assistant; agricultural technology/business; agricultural technology/production; coal mining technology; diesel equipment technology; early childhood development; electronics technology; industrial studies; information processing; machine shop technology; manufacturing technologies; marketing business management; medical office assistant (OCC Program); nursing; radio/television broadcasting and social services specialist.

Certificates awarded Friday included those in administrative assistant; administrative information technology; machine shop technology; coal mining technology - maintenance 1; electronics technology; information processing; medical transcription (OCC Program); practical nursing; professional ag applicator; sales and web page design.

The processional and recessional were provided by local pianist Marcia Woodcock and trumpeter Bill Hudson.