FHU holds commencement

The 139th year of commencement ceremonies at Freed-Hardeman was held at 10 a.m. at Loyd Auditorium.

Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the U.S. Court of Appeals delivered the keynote address.

Brown has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2005. She was the first black woman to serve on the California Supreme Court. Her name has also been mentioned as a possible contender for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Brown said she knows it took a lot of work and support for the graduates to reach this stage of their lives.

"I know that it took commitment, dedication, perseverance and prayer to arrive at this day," Brown said during her address. "You are a part of a great community of faith."

Brown shared a three-point philosophy called "The Political Wisdom of the Ages" with the graduates.

She said the three points are:

1.) "There is no free lunch: you can't get something for nothing."

2.) "There is no truth without God: You cannot separate truth and God, and you cannot separate truth from freedom."

3.) "If you put more in, you will get more back - sort of. The more you put into faith, family and work, all of those things will come back to you ... in different ways."

Brown concluded her address with, "May God bless you on this, your special day, and always."

During the ceremony, 264 graduates received their degrees.

Graduates said they were proud and were looking forward to beginning or furthering their careers.

Terry Combest, 39, received her graduate degree as an education specialist. She celebrated with her husband, Boris, and three children - Byron, 1; Boris Jr., 5; and Brittney, 7.

"It feels wonderful," Terry Combest said. "It took me three years, in which I had (Byron), but I made it."

Andy Duran, 21, from Virginia, majored in marketing and said he is glad this stage of his life is complete.

"It's awesome, and I'm glad to be done," Duran said. "I'm just ready to start working."

He added, "It went by real fast. It feels like I just started yesterday. But I enjoyed it."

Nathan Dean, 22, of Jacksonville, Fla., who also majored in marketing, said graduating is surreal to him.

"I don't believe it," he said. "I still feel like a kid. It's strange. I guess I'll go back home and start working."

Dean added, "I had a great educational experience and the professors were extremely helpful all four years."

An honorary Doctor of Laws degree was given to retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Bill Morgan, of Benton, Ky., during the ceremony.

Morgan, a FHU trustee, said Saturday was "a great day for me.

"I appreciate this degree, and I will cherish it," he said