South Suburban College celebrates the Class of 2025 at 97th annual commencement ceremony

South Suburban College (SSC) sent scores of new graduates into the community on Sunday, May 18, as the Class of 2025 accepted their diplomas at the school’s 97th annual commencement ceremony.

Hosted for the first time at the Tinley Park Convention Center, a packed crowd of family, friends, and faculty celebrated the graduates and their achievements. SSC President Dr. Lynette D. Stokes opened the ceremony with a recognition of her student’s hard work, but challenged them to reach even higher.

“Your journey to this moment has been marked by hard work, sacrifice, and an unwavering spirit,” she said. “Excellence has become your standard, and that will set you apart wherever life takes you. The experiences you’ve had at SSC have shaped not just your mind, but your heart. You understand the struggles of others, and have built relationships grounded in compassion. As you leave here today, I challenge you to carry perseverance with you in all of its forms.”

SSC Chairman of the Board of Trustees Terry R. Wells also addressed the students. His remarks leaned on his decades as an educator, and asked students to reflect on their journeys and those who made their big moment possible.

“You are also walking across this stage for those family members in the audience, sitting there with smiling faces and chests puffed out,” Wells said. “They know that they played a role in the success that you have today. Many people will walk across this stage with you, and share in the triumph of your moment. We, as a board, will do the same. We can’t wait to see what the next chapter of life brings for the graduates of the Class of 2025.”

Wells also took the opportunity to recognize a faculty member who has served SSC for many years, Dr. Jennifer Medlen, awarding her the honor of being named Faculty of the Year. She also gave the class a challenge – asking them to embrace the things that make them unique.

“I know it sounds trite, but push yourself to be who you truly are because sometimes that’s not as easy as it seems,” she said. “These words are a tribute to you and the love I’ve had for SSC for the past 27 years. You’ve accomplished something that no one can ever take from you. Please keep striving to reach your dreams, and continue helping those around you. You are definitely the hope for the future.”

Medlen’s remarks gave way to the commencement speaker, La Shawn K. Ford, Illinois State Representative for the 8th District. A lifelong resident of Chicago, Ford has served as a state representative since 2007. Using his position, he works to improve access to healthcare, education, job opportunities, and affordable housing. He also works to expand protections for veterans, to safeguard the environment, to foster small business development, and much more.

His speech tasked the graduates with finding ways to challenge themselves – to avoid the easy road and embrace life’s difficulties in the same way they surmounted challenges to earn their graduation.

“All of the sacrifices you’ve made were not just steps to earn a degree, they were steps towards becoming resilient leaders and thoughtful citizens,” he said. “Graduates, you have proven to yourselves and the world that success is not handed to us, it is earned through your choices and effort, and willingness to push through adversity. True achievement is measured not by the ease of the journey, but by the strength of your resolve and depth of your character.”

To learn more about South Suburban College and its programs, visit ssc.edu