The skies were cloudy Saturday, but William Woods University graduates' faces were all sunshine.
WWU celebrated its 149th commencement with a walk across Senior Pond, a 10 a.m. undergraduate ceremony and a graduate degree ceremony at 2 p.m.
The university conferred degrees to 225 undergraduates and 585 graduates.
Graduation traditionally begins with the Ivy Chain Ceremony. Although this ceremony's origins remain a mystery, common belief is that early senior classes first planted ivy on campus during special graduation programs. Since then, the planting ritual has evolved into an ivy ceremony in the fall for new students and an ivy chain processional in the spring for graduating seniors.
Led by senior class president Ashley Pendleton, the robe-clad graduating class carried a long strand of ivy over the bridge across Senior Pond. The ivy is severed during commencement, signifying the students entering the next phase of their lives.
The keynote speaker for the undergraduate ceremony was Ryan Leaf, former All-American quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist. He currently serves as the program ambassador for Transcend Recovery Community, a substance abuse recovery organization, traveling around the country counseling young people by telling his story. He is also the chairman of a nonprofit called the Focused Intensity Foundation, which raises money for mental health and substance abuse services for those who can't afford it. And he also remains deeply involved in the sports world, working as a college football analyst for the PAC-12 network, Sirius XM radio and Fox Sports.
The keynote speaker at the graduate ceremony was Sarah Wisdom, the first female superintendent of the New Bloomfield R-3 School District in 2017.
Under her leadership, the New Bloomfield R-3 schools have focused on student achievement, internal and external communication, strategic planning, and campus safety. Growing young teachers and molding future leaders are among Wisdom's passions and strengths.