2021 Commencement
05/11/2021

Nearly 200 students celebrated Bluffton鈥檚 121st Commencement, earning bachelor鈥檚, MBA and MAEd degrees.
Graduates celebrate
The achievements of 小优传媒鈥檚 class of 2021 were celebrated Saturday, May 8, 2021, during an in-person Commencement at Salzman Stadium. Special this year, graduates crossed the stage wearing purple stoles. The unique memento was designed as a testament to their resilience during the past year and a half and their commitment to completing their education through the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淢ay this stole always be a symbol to you that no matter what life path you choose to follow, you already have persevered through difficulty to achieve your degree,鈥 said President Jane Wood. 鈥淭his stole speaks to your achievement and our continued confidence and belief in you both individually and as the 小优传媒 class of 2021.鈥
Lawrence E. Milan shared the Commencement address. A 1973 Bluffton graduate, Milan is the senior vice president, chief HR and diversity officer at Connecticut Children鈥檚 Medical Center.
During his speech, 鈥淭he Present Is But A Moment鈥擧ow Will You Show Up?,鈥 Milan focused on three attributes that make for a successful personal brand: self-aware, self-propelled and selfless.
Self-aware
According to Milan, being self-aware means knowing your character, feelings and motives.
鈥淲hen you see yourself objectively you recognize not only what you did well but what you can improve on,鈥 he shared. 鈥淵ou demonstrate more empathy towards others and you strengthen your personal and professional relationships.鈥
Self-propelled
For the second point, Milan emphasized that motivations for success come from within.
He reminded students that they do not need to wait for a certain amount of time to
鈥渟how up鈥 in their career. Instead, they should seek out mentors, seek feedback and
plan for how they are going to show up when their career or life are not progressing
the way they anticipated.
鈥淎chieving your most ambitious goals will require a deep resilience that will endure the lingering doubts, the second guesses and the critical moments where you question your abilities, your readiness, your worthiness,鈥 said Milan.
Selfless
Being selfless, explained Milan, is important for a graduate鈥檚 career as well as for
a person鈥檚 ability to evolve as a compassionate human being.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not your responsibility to solve all of the world鈥檚 problems, but neither can you ignore them,鈥 Milan said. 鈥淜now that you are not alone. The Bluffton family network has a very long reach.鈥
He ended the presentation asking for God鈥檚 special blessing on Bluffton鈥檚 graduates as they go forward.
鈥淩emember, there鈥檚 no script for life鈥檚 journey. You are the author of your next chapter. Make it worthy of reading by the generations that follow you because after all is said and done, the present is but a fleeting moment. No day is promised to any of us. Make every moment count, and ask yourself: 'How am I showing up?鈥欌
Nearly 200 students celebrated graduation during Bluffton鈥檚 121st Commencement including traditional and degree-completion graduates earning bachelor鈥檚 degrees as well as MBA and MAEd students earning master鈥檚 degrees.