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TWC ARCHES Spring 2013

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T<br />

ennessee Wesleyan College celebrated its first winter<br />

commencement, graduating 83 students at the December<br />

ceremony in Townsend Memorial Hall. Family and friends of<br />

the students and the college gathered together to honor the new<br />

Tennessee Wesleyan graduates receiving their degrees and to<br />

hear commencement speaker Dr. James Dawson, a former <strong>TWC</strong><br />

president currently serving as president of Lincoln Memorial<br />

University, share his encouragement and wisdom with the<br />

graduating class.<br />

“This is a celebration of the achievements of our new graduates,”<br />

said Dr. Harley Knowles, <strong>TWC</strong> president. “In our 155th year of<br />

service as an educational leader in Southeast Tennessee, we are<br />

celebrating our first winter commencement. This is a milestone for<br />

the college as well as a milestone for our new graduates.”<br />

Friday’s graduates joined a <strong>TWC</strong> alumni association of more than<br />

6,000 members.<br />

“We are standing on the campus of an absolutely beautiful and<br />

historic college,” said Anne Montgomery, <strong>TWC</strong> chair of the<br />

alumni board and director of the Athens evening program. “The<br />

real significance of this college is you, the students, alumni, faculty<br />

4 <strong>ARCHES</strong> | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />

Tennessee Wesleyan<br />

graduates 83 at college’s first<br />

Winter Commencement<br />

and staff. The bond you have made with your friends and colleagues<br />

here should be honored, remembered and preserved.”<br />

Dawson’s commencement speech echoed Montgomery’s<br />

encouragement for preserving the relationships made at<br />

Tennessee Wesleyan.<br />

“You’re joining a network of alumni who all share a common bond,”<br />

said Dawson, who served as president of Tennessee Wesleyan<br />

from 1995 until 2002. “Each of you now bears a responsibility to<br />

enhance the reputation of <strong>TWC</strong>. You will be leaving this place<br />

prepared to make your mark and prepared to make the name of<br />

Tennessee Wesleyan better known.”<br />

Dawson challenged the new Tennessee Wesleyan graduates to<br />

go out into the world and serve the reputation of their alma<br />

mater well.<br />

“This diploma, which is an indication of your success, it’s just a<br />

piece of paper,” said Dawson. “It’s up to you to bring definition<br />

and purpose to your degree. Your opportunities are expanding.<br />

Your vision for the future is growing each day. Tennessee<br />

Wesleyan College has prepared you to be productive citizens in

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