Mason Randall of Batavia has graduated from American International College (AIC) with a Bachelor of Science in the Criminal Justice program.
On Saturday, May 11, the College conferred degrees to more than 600 graduates receiving bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degrees from its School of Health Sciences, School of Education, and School of Business, Arts, and Sciences.
In her remarks, the College's Interim President Nicolle Cestero told the class of 2024 that their time at AIC was formative. "Each of you has overcome challenges, pursued passions and you have grown in ways you might not have imagined when you first stepped foot on campus," she told the graduates. "As you stand ready to begin your next journey, know that life is full of possibilities just waiting for you."
Keynote speaker Michael D. Smith - the CEO of AmeriCorps - regaled graduates, their families, and AIC faculty and staff with stories from his youth, growing up in the McKnight neighborhood of Springfield. Smith spoke of how being part of a community at the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield planted the seeds for his future in which he leads the country's largest public volunteer force.
Smith, who received an honorary doctorate from AIC during the ceremony, told the graduates they were not unlike him. "My story might be yours, too. People see you but they don't always see your struggles. But AIC wanted you because they knew what some saw as hurdles, you are going to use as springboards."
The ceremony saw 216 bachelor's degrees, 279 master's, 72 certificates of graduate study, and thirty-six doctorates awarded.
