Kentucky Wesleyan College Honors Class of 2025 at 157th Commencement

Kentucky Wesleyan College celebrated its 157th Commencement on Saturday morning at Owensboro Christian Church, recognizing the academic achievements and resilience of the Class of 2025.

The ceremony marked the conclusion of undergraduate studies for more than 150 students, including first-generation college graduates, international students, and students completing online degree programs. More than 40 percent of the class earned additional academic or leadership distinctions.

KWC President Dr. James Cousins opened the event by welcoming graduates, families, faculty, staff, trustees and guests. His remarks acknowledged the significance of the moment and the years of determination behind each student’s success.

“You persisted without the inherited playbook that others take for granted,” Cousins said, recognizing the many students who navigated college as the first in their families to do so. “Your success speaks to your character as much as your coursework.”

He praised the students’ ability to push forward through academic, personal and financial challenges, noting that the journey to a degree was often made one essay, one quiz or one commute at a time.

Nearly half of the graduates were the first in their families to complete a college degree. Many balanced coursework with jobs, caregiving or other personal responsibilities. He described their journey as a series of daily efforts—essays, commutes, assignments—that built momentum over time and ultimately brought them to commencement.

Cousins also honored the college’s faculty and staff, recognizing their dedication inside and outside the classroom. From early-morning practices to late-night office hours, campus ministry meetings and quiet moments of mentorship, he described them as “faithful servant leaders” who modeled a love of learning and helped students grow into confident thinkers.

Valedictorian MaeKayla Minton addressed the audience on behalf of the graduating class, reflecting on the personal growth that takes place over the course of a college career. She acknowledged the anxiety and uncertainty that often accompany the beginning of such a journey, especially when stepping into an unfamiliar environment.

Minton described her early days at Kentucky Wesleyan as both exciting and intimidating, but emphasized the way the college community helped her develop confidence and direction. She credited her professors, peers and campus involvement with helping her better understand who she is, while also recognizing that self-discovery is never truly finished.

Prior to the conferral of degrees, Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House delivered the keynote address. A nationally acclaimed writer and professor, House spoke of his own journey as a first-generation college student. He described his upbringing in southeastern Kentucky, raised by parents who worked in a factory and a school lunchroom and who instilled in him a belief in education and persistence.

He told graduates that their achievements belonged not only to them, but to those who had invested in them through small acts of love and sacrifice.

“There’s nothing more important than showing up,” House said, praising the families and supporters in attendance.

He encouraged graduates to pursue excellence in every season of life, even in jobs that may serve as stepping stones. Work done with integrity and pride, he said, creates its own reward. House also urged students to maintain balance, describing the value of both determination and rest. His personal mantras, “Keep going” and “Be still,” served as reminders that success is found in both movement and reflection.

In earlier remarks, Cousins reminded graduates that they now carry the legacy of Kentucky Wesleyan College into the world. He encouraged them to honor the sacrifices made on their behalf and to lead with purpose and compassion.

Congratulations, Class of 2025. This milestone is a celebration not just of academic success, but of your human spirit that made it possible. Forward ever.