GRADUATION 2013

valpo84 · May 16, 2013, 04:51:11 PM

To this class of seniors -- Broekhoff, Boggs, Bogan, Buggs, Kenney, Kurth, and Van Wijk -- congratulations on graduating from dear ol Valpo. Welcome to each of you as a fellow alumni and we hope you all treasure your diplomas and time at Valpo as we did. We thank you for your dedication on the court, off the court, and in the classroom. We thank you for the NIT and for the NCAA, for buzzer-beaters and heart-breakers. We thank you for your families (and remember to thank them too) for agreeing to send you to Valpo, in some cases thousands and thousands of miles from family, friends and fellow alums. Thank you for demonstrating proper attitude and integrity, team work and class. For being personable and friendly even when you lost or were suffering from injuries, or when you wanted to talk to your friends, fellow teammates, family or girlfriends. Your drive and perseverence are enviable both for playing basketball and for life skills. When we were thousands of miles away from Valpo (for most of your time at Valpo), we could turn on the HLN on are computers/ipads anywhere in Asia and watch a game (whether on a Saturday or Sunday morning) or to fight jet lag in a hotel in Malaysia in the middle of the night. A win at 5 am is as good as a win at 9 pm.

Most important, though, you earned your degrees because of the same hard work and determination, and the symbol of that will hang on your walls too. Be proud of that and enjoy that "cutting down the nets-type" ceremony this weekend.

HC · May 16, 2013, 05:32:30 PM

I'm not sure, but I heard somewhere KVW isn't graduating. Anybody know if this is true?

Regardless, thanks for all the time spent at Valpo representing the school and community both on and off the court.

historyman · May 16, 2013, 06:44:55 PM

Quote from: HC on May 16, 2013, 05:32:30 PMI'm not sure, but I heard somewhere KVW isn't graduating. Anybody know if this is true? Regardless, thanks for all the time spent at Valpo representing the school and community both on and off the court.

I always got the impression that Kevin thought he had enough education and was here strictly for basketball. I do wish him all the best on his future beyond basketball.

vu72 · May 16, 2013, 07:14:30 PM

Quote from: valpo84 on May 16, 2013, 04:51:11 PM
To this class of seniors -- Broekhoff, Boggs, Bogan, Buggs, Kenney, Kurth, and Van Wijk -- congratulations on graduating from dear ol Valpo. Welcome to each of you as a fellow alumni and we hope you all treasure your diplomas and time at Valpo as we did. We thank you for your dedication on the court, off the court, and in the classroom. We thank you for the NIT and for the NCAA, for buzzer-beaters and heart-breakers. We thank you for your families (and remember to thank them too) for agreeing to send you to Valpo, in some cases thousands and thousands of miles from family, friends and fellow alums. Thank you for demonstrating proper attitude and integrity, team work and class. For being personable and friendly even when you lost or were suffering from injuries, or when you wanted to talk to your friends, fellow teammates, family or girlfriends. Your drive and perseverence are enviable both for playing basketball and for life skills. When we were thousands of miles away from Valpo (for most of your time at Valpo), we could turn on the HLN on are computers/ipads anywhere in Asia and watch a game (whether on a Saturday or Sunday morning) or to fight jet lag in a hotel in Malaysia in the middle of the night. A win at 5 am is as good as a win at 9 pm.

Most important, though, you earned your degrees because of the same hard work and determination, and the symbol of that will hang on your walls too. Be proud of that and enjoy that "cutting down the nets-type" ceremony this weekend.

let me add my personal congrats to this very well written piece by 84.

valporun · May 17, 2013, 11:16:13 AM

Is it also possible that KVW didn't take more than 12-ish credit hours a semester, since he would be spending a lot of time going to Indy, or wherever, for his back treatments? That can have an impact on how many classes are taken, when you know you won't be in class during certain hours to accommodate going to a specialist that isn't in Valparaiso.

HC · May 17, 2013, 12:35:15 PM

When I was in school we had to take a minimum of 12 hrs to keep our scholarship and be eligible to play.

valporun · May 17, 2013, 12:43:50 PM

Yes, 12 is the minimum, but anymore, to graduate in 4 years, you have to take about 16+ credits a semester. Not so easy to do for a scholarship athlete who had to travel to Indy, or wherever, for back treatments on a regular basis.

LaPorteAveApostle · May 17, 2013, 03:07:52 PM

Summer classes are an easy way to augment that, though, no?

HC · May 17, 2013, 09:15:06 PM

If you're taking 12 credits because that's the minimum you aren't taking summer classes that aren't mandatory.

LaPorteAveApostle · May 17, 2013, 09:22:15 PM

well...yeah.

but what with APR, programs have a big interest in getting kids to graduate. so i would assume he has advisors and such telling him what to do...

historyman · May 17, 2013, 11:22:46 PM

Kevin told me the summer his back was worked on in Crown Point that he was bored with school and that his education was far superior to any American education. He was taking Spanish and already spoke it well.

valpotx · May 18, 2013, 02:16:50 AM

It seems KVW isn't immune to the snobbish European way of thinking about America

. It is the similar view that the Northeastern US has of the rest of the US

humbleopinion · May 18, 2013, 07:02:44 AM

Quote from: historyman on May 17, 2013, 11:22:46 PM
Kevin told me the summer his back was worked on in Crown Point that he was bored with school and that his education was far superior to any American education. He was taking Spanish and already spoke it well.

So why was he taking Spanish? I am sure that there could have been plenty of challenging classes for him. It's also possible to take courses that accommodate a schedule that leaves little time for studying.

VU75 · May 18, 2013, 08:05:31 AM

Quote from: valpotx on May 18, 2013, 02:16:50 AM. It is the similar view that the Northeastern US has of the rest of the US

Or that Texans have of the rest of the planet.

valpopal · May 18, 2013, 03:20:56 PM

Quote from: historyman on May 17, 2013, 11:22:46 PM
Kevin told me the summer his back was worked on in Crown Point that he was bored with school and that his education was far superior to any American education. He was taking Spanish and already spoke it well.

Kevin may have been bored, but he was one of the players named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll in 2011-2012 with a 3.54 GPA, second highest on the team to Nick Shelton.

valpotx · May 18, 2013, 05:40:17 PM

Quote from: VU75 on May 18, 2013, 08:05:31 AM
Quote from: valpotx on May 18, 2013, 02:16:50 AM. It is the similar view that the Northeastern US has of the rest of the US

Or that Texans have of the rest of the planet.

When it comes to sports and 'tough guy' mentality, YES. I was speaking more to the view that the Northeastern US thinks about the rest of the US in regards to academics. We have some good schools, but we are not snobby about that aspect

valpopal · May 19, 2013, 09:38:37 AM

I know they would have preferred a win, but the silver lining on the softball loss to California: Valpo's seniors get to come home in time to attend their graduation ceremonies. Congrats to all the graduating seniors in all the sports and to those who were their fans!

valpopal · May 19, 2013, 03:41:46 PM

Ryan and Ben return to the ARC one more time: Congratulations!

koala · May 19, 2013, 08:05:49 PM

G'day all I just wanted to drop you all a line to say a big thank you from Rowdy, his family and I. We have loved being a part of the Valpo basketball and academic families and can't believe how quickly the four years have flown by. Rowdy has loved playing with the team a sensational group of young men who became his brothers, getting to know and meeting all the fans, living and studying here and we have enjoyed each and every time we have visited. Graduation today was amazing and a very proud moment for me. I am very thankful that I was able to come back to be a part of it and see so many wonderful students graduate alongside my son. We wont say goodbye because we hope to come back one day to visit all the special friends we have made. Thanks again for making Valpo basketball such fun, we are going to miss seeing Ryan wearing his number 45 and playing for the Crusaders but we hope he left a mark and that you all wont forget him. You all take care and remember us in Australia as we wont forget you

vu72 · May 19, 2013, 08:31:35 PM

Quote from: koala on May 19, 2013, 08:05:49 PM
G'day all I just wanted to drop you all a line to say a big thank you from Rowdy, his family and I. We have loved being a part of the Valpo basketball and academic families and can't believe how quickly the four years have flown by. Rowdy has loved playing with the team a sensational group of young men who became his brothers, getting to know and meeting all the fans, living and studying here and we have enjoyed each and every time we have visited. Graduation today was amazing and a very proud moment for me. I am very thankful that I was able to come back to be a part of it and see so many wonderful students graduate alongside my son. We wont say goodbye because we hope to come back one day to visit all the special friends we have made. Thanks again for making Valpo basketball such fun, we are going to miss seeing Ryan wearing his number 45 and playing for the Crusaders but we hope he left a mark and that you all wont forget him. You all take care and remember us in Australia as we wont forget you

And blessing to you and your family. Koala has raised a wonderful son who has represented Valpo in the finest way and now, proudly, becomes part of the alumni family. He is a Valpo man! Congrats to you all!

LaPorteAveApostle · May 19, 2013, 09:33:30 PM

Quote from: koala on May 19, 2013, 08:05:49 PMThanks again for making Valpo basketball such fun, we are going to miss seeing Ryan wearing his number 45 and playing for the Crusaders but we hope he left a mark and that you all wont forget him.

He left an indelible mark, and I don't just mean on our record book!

Thank you so much for raising such a wonderful lad, and loaning him to us.

If you have any other sons or grandsons, we call dibs!

...also females. We actually need some of those, stats!

valpopal · May 19, 2013, 09:49:13 PM

Quote from: koala on May 19, 2013, 08:05:49 PM
G'day all I just wanted to drop you all a line to say a big thank you from Rowdy, his family and I. We have loved being a part of the Valpo basketball and academic families and can't believe how quickly the four years have flown by. Rowdy has loved playing with the team a sensational group of young men who became his brothers, getting to know and meeting all the fans, living and studying here and we have enjoyed each and every time we have visited. Graduation today was amazing and a very proud moment for me. I am very thankful that I was able to come back to be a part of it and see so many wonderful students graduate alongside my son. We wont say goodbye because we hope to come back one day to visit all the special friends we have made. Thanks again for making Valpo basketball such fun, we are going to miss seeing Ryan wearing his number 45 and playing for the Crusaders but we hope he left a mark and that you all wont forget him. You all take care and remember us in Australia as we wont forget you

Koala: Thank you for your generous spirit and to Ryan for many great moments I was privileged to capture in pictures. However, below is one of my photos I enjoyed taking as much as any this past season. We hope the two of you return often for visits in the future.

vubballfan10 · May 23, 2013, 09:18:56 AM

Quote from: valpopal on May 19, 2013, 09:49:13 PM
Quote from: koala on May 19, 2013, 08:05:49 PMG'day all I just wanted to drop you all a line to say a big thank you from Rowdy, his family and I. We have loved being a part of the Valpo basketball and academic families and can't believe how quickly the four years have flown by. Rowdy has loved playing with the team a sensational group of young men who became his brothers, getting to know and meeting all the fans, living and studying here and we have enjoyed each and every time we have visited. Graduation today was amazing and a very proud moment for me. I am very thankful that I was able to come back to be a part of it and see so many wonderful students graduate alongside my son. We wont say goodbye because we hope to come back one day to visit all the special friends we have made. Thanks again for making Valpo basketball such fun, we are going to miss seeing Ryan wearing his number 45 and playing for the Crusaders but we hope he left a mark and that you all wont forget him. You all take care and remember us in Australia as we wont forget you
Koala: Thank you for your generous spirit and to Ryan for many great moments I was privileged to capture in pictures. However, below is one of my photos I enjoyed taking as much as any this past season. We hope the two of you return often for visits in the future.

Just noticed Matt Kenney in the background..

ml2 · May 23, 2013, 09:51:03 AM

There are a lot of cool pictures from graduation on Valpo's flickr page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valparaiso_university/

Including this one...

Also Ryan's picture has been added to the wall in the Hilltop Gym along with all the other past Crusader greats who won conference POY honors.