U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito gave the commencement address to graduates at West Virginia Wesleyan College’s 134th commencement on Saturday.
Held at the Wesley Chapel, the college’s commencement saw nearly 200 graduates walk, representing 39 bachelor’s degree programs, four master’s programs and the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
“I encourage you to build a life here in West Virginia,” Capito said in her address. “No matter where you come from, no matter where your personal history is, you are all West Virginians now. I hope you will love the state and have come to love the state like we all do.”
Capito encouraged participants to make the most of their experiences, and to look up and be present in the moment versus spending so much time on their cell phones.
“Go out, explore, but remember to look up,” Capito said. “When the time comes, just know that these country roads will welcome you home.”
Capito was also presented the prestigious Rhododendron Award by Dr. James Moore, Wesleyan’s 20th president.
The Rhododendron Award is provided by the college to individuals who have brought distinction and honor to their state or have offered exemplary acts of leadership on behalf of the College. Capito is the 16th individual to receive the Rhododendron Award since its inception in 1967.
“On behalf of the graduating class, faculty, staff and the entire West Virginia Wesleyan College Community, we extend our gratitude to Senator Capito for joining with us to celebrate our graduates and providing the 134th Commencement Address,” Moore said as Capito was presented the award.
“Her words of encouragement, hope and resiliency are inspirational and have made this commencement truly memorable. We appreciate the senator’s friendship, her service to our state, the nation and her continued support of higher education.”
During the commencement, Senior Class President Zoe Casto announced that more than $2,000 had been raised for the senior class gift of adding security cameras on campus.
This year’s commencement participants represented 22 states and eight countries. Fifty-nine percent of the participants were from West Virginia. The graduates hailed from 34 different counties.
Thirty percent of the participants received the West Virginia PROMISE scholarship, and 17% are first generation college students, according to Wesleyan. Thirty-two percent participated on an NCAA athletic team.
The most popular undergraduate degrees among those conferred Saturday, according to Wesleyan, were nursing, business administration, biology, psychology and criminal justice.