May 23, 2016 at 4:49 p.m.
Nicolet graduates 470 in weekend ceremonies
Nicolet graduates 470 in weekend ceremonies
The ceremony took place inside the Rhinelander High School Auditorium, due to renovations at the Nicolet Learning Resource Center.
Nicolet president Richard Nelson congratulated the students on reaching this milestone and wished them well in the future.
"Learning is and must be forever," Nelson told the graduates. "Higher education gives you a choice, it empowers you to pursue your dreams that suit your interest and your talent. It empowers you to lead positive change in your community and make your world and ours a little bit better tomorrow than it is today."
Carl Ruedebusch, chairman of the Vilas County Economic Development Board and president and CEO of Ruedebusch Development and Construction, Inc., gave the keynote address.
Ruedebusch described how he went from being a football player at Madison to starting his own construction business, leading to a long career in real estate and development.
"There is an answer, it just sometimes takes a little bit," Ruedebusch said. "I started later than most, getting to that answer, but you can still get there. I'm expecting you guys to get to the answer sooner than I got there. But I'm here, living proof that you can still do it."
Ruedebusch spoke about the Vilas County EDC and its work to foster business in northern Wisconsin.
He also shared a formula for success originally devised by Jimmy Johnson, a former coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
"The formula is, P plus A equals S," Ruedebusch said. "That is, performance plus attitude equals success. Performance is defined as hard work."
Graduating student Samuel Langheim, who grew up in Arbor Vitae and is a Lakeland Union High School graduate, gave the student reflection. Langheim plans to attend Marquette University in Milwaukee next fall to study political science.
His speech spoke to the value of gratitude.
In it, he mused about how to fully express his gratitude to all of the people who helped with his journey to graduation.
"Sometimes our words are simply not enough to convey how we feel," Langheim said. "For many of us, words just aren't enough."
Langheim said most of the gratitude he was feeling as he received his degree was directed toward his teachers at Nicolet College.
"They, as well as Nicolet, gave me a second chance," Langheim said. "Another shot to prove myself, that I can do it, that I'm truly capable of anything I put my heart and mind to, but I never knew how to thank them for that. I asked a first-grade teacher who I am very close to what's the best way a student can convey their gratitude towards you. He told me it's very simple. Just succeed. As we stand here today with pride, hope and optimism, we also stand on the shoulders of giants and they happily hold us up."
Daleth Mountjoy may be reached at d.mountjoy@ rivernewsonline.com.
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