Text: SGA President Kelton Bloxham ’24’s remarks during Maryville College Commencement exercises on May 4, 2024
May 4, 2024
Kelton Bloxham ’24, who served as president of the Maryville College Student Government Association during his senior year, delivered the traditional welcome remarks from that office to the Class of 2024 during Commencement exercises on May 4, 2024. Here is the full text of his remarks.
Happy May the 4th, everyone! Welcome to Maryville College. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Kelton Bloxham and I have had the honor of being Maryville College’s student body president for the past year, and it is my pleasure to welcome you to our home for hopefully the next 3-5 minutes.
And a special welcome to my classmates, experiencing what might just be our first “normal” graduation. Who knew our “normal” would involve bagpipers leading the charge? But hey, after drinking the orange and garnet Kool-Aid for a couple of years, anything seems possible. Every day unexpected, right?
Today, as we celebrate Star Wars Day and commencement, I want to take a moment to shine a light on some of our unsung heroes — the ones who may not be on this stage with me but have played vital roles in our college experience, and to share some of the lessons my class and I have learned at MC.
Just like C-3PO, our beloved administrative assistants like Blerta, and Amy from admissions, security team like Yosef and Teresa, and even Metz staff like Mrs. Daisy have been the backbone of our campus for the past years. Coming in during covid our class often heard them be described as our essential workers, and I think that this name still holds true. They’ve been our safety nets, therapists, and sometimes even parental figures away from home. So, let’s show them the appreciation they deserve. In true Noah Bowman fashion, let’s clap it up for them!
I also want to shine a light on some of my personal unsung heroes, who have taught me undeniable lessons that I carry with me to this day. Firstly, my friends, who have been my steadfast companions, supporting my sometimes outlandish concepts and downright crazy ideas and standing by me through thick and thin. Whether it was our late-night study sessions in Thaw or our spontaneous adventures to Waffle House, you all have made my college experience truly unforgettable. Because let’s face it, nothing bonds a group of students quite like midnight trips to the parkway.
Your support has taught me the first lesson: the importance of learning to listen more and speak less. From debates about the best student to play Rocky in Rocky horror picture show to heated discussions about which Star Wars movie is the best (clearly it’s “Empire Strikes Back”), my friends have shown me the value of truly hearing each other out, even if it means enduring yet another passionate monologue about why pineapple does not belong on pizza (by the way, it does)!
My second lesson comes from my professors and teachers. They have taught me what it means to love whether that be tough love or not. I’m grateful for them, who, throughout the years, have been guiding lights, navigating me through systems I never truly would have understood. My seventh-grade science teacher, Mrs. Bentley, who also happens to be here today has continued to support me even after all of these years. In my sophomore year, in Dr. Bay’s Statistics 101 class, the number of times I found myself writing “sorry” with an upside-down smiley face is a number I would like to keep to my grave, it is for all of those moments that I want to extend my deepest apologies to our professors, thanking and highlighting them for meeting us with love even when they could tell we were off of our A-game after a night out. All of those times when we were far from being academic weapons, but more like academic liabilities.
My professors, teachers, and mentors have taught me the second lesson which is … love is not just an emotion but an action — it’s about showing up for each other with kindness, understanding, and compassion, even in the most trying of times.
Finally, I’d like to pay tribute to a random individual who might be among us today. Last year, I endured a tragic loss — my closest friend on campus, Charleston, my beloved dog. She wasn’t just a pet; she was my confidante, my solace, my steadfast companion throughout my college journey. Her name, Charleston “Chewy” Bloxham, drew inspiration from the city or the candy and the Star Wars character Chewbacca, affectionately known as Chewy. She was the chewy to my Han Solo.
Whether it was the joyous moments of triumph or the darkest hours of despair, Chewy offered unwavering love and support without ever asking for anything in return. When she passed away, the grief was overwhelming, and I felt like a piece of my heart had been ripped away. The idea is that your brain is trained after so long to feel things for someone or something that when it is taken away, it almost feels the pain of the sorrow physically, like muscle memory.
But amid my pure sorrow, something remarkable happened — the campus rallied around me in true Maryville College fashion. After Chewy’s death, I remember seeing an anonymous post on YikYak, a popular social media page, with five words simply saying and I quote, “I hope Kelton heals well,” with over 40 upvotes. I have no idea who wrote that, and perhaps I never will, but to that unknown hero, I want to say thank you. Thank you for being my unsung hero, and for quietly supporting me in my time of need.
Yes, Maryville College prepares us academically and this might be a hot take, but in my opinion, academics is far from the most important thing we have gained from MC. We have truly gained a culture, community, and family.
The support of this place we call home leads me to my final lesson: the importance of always speaking up for what you believe in, even if it’s just your two cents. Each person, whether known or unknown, has the power to make a difference. Trust me- Ask any administrator up here, I have a certain knack for making sure my voice is heard in one way or the other. It’s about standing up for what’s right, advocating for change, and making sure your voice is heard, no matter how small you may think it is.
In commemoration of this lesson, I had originally planned for you to find an envelope beneath your seats, but that was before we had to move inside because of the rain. Inside each one were two pennies, and I wanted you to take them with you in remembrance of what I said today: Always feel comfortable sharing your two cents.
Now, as we continue on this journey called life, I don’t want to end with the typical ‘HAGS’ (“have a great summer”) like we saw in elementary school. No. I want to thank each of you for allowing me to feel loved and appreciated, for being my unsung heroes in my times of need. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to call you all my Maryville College family.
For one last time, Go Scots by God, and may the Force be with you.