CLASS OF 2017 Stepping out into the world

On a sunny Mother’s Day afternoon, Ripon College celebrated its 151st Commencement and the graduation of the Class of 2017. This year’s theme, Wisconsin Food and Entrepreneurship, honored the state’s commitment to food that contributes to its distinctive food culture and identity.

The two honorary degree recipients were Craig Culver, co-founder of the Wisconsin-based Culver’s restaurant chain; and Stefano Viglietti, a self-taught chef and entrepreneur with four food establishments in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Culver advised the graduates to “continue to challenge yourselves. Never stop learning. When you overcome challenge, you not only become better at business but better as a person. Keep challenging yourself, keep learning and keep growing. As well, never give up on your core values.”

Viglietti said, “I’m extremely excited about what you’re all going to do. I’m convinced the best leaders of this country come from institutions just like this.”

Legendary jazz singer Al Jarreau ’62, who died in February, was honored with the College’s Medal of Merit. Jarreau’s son, Ryan, accepted on his father’s behalf and commented on how much he has learned about Wisconsin and Ripon College, and why his father loved them so much. “This state and this (college) are contagious,” he said. “A lot of great minds and great hearts came out of here.”

Senior Class Speaker J.J. Grinde of Ripon, Wisconsin, said his father has always told him, “It’s all about the little things.” He said he has come to realize the wisdom of this as he grows older. “We are the sum of the decisions we choose to make. It’s up to us to have the integrity to hold ourselves accountable and do things right. It’s all about the little things. We aren’t done learning yet, and we never will be.”

Seventy-two percent of the senior class contributed to the Senior Class Gift. Along with matches from the Board of Trustees, a total of $2,689.35 was raised to be split between the Senior Class Scholarship and the Annual Fund.

KEEP CHALLENGING YOURSELF, KEEP LEARNING AND KEEP GROWING. AS WELL, NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR CORE VALUES.