Illinois' Bradley University winter commencement sees 220 graduate

Bradley University celebrates commencement of more than 200.
Bradley University celebrates commencement of more than 200. | Courtesy of Shutterstock
Bradley University's December commencement saw the graduation of more than 220 students. 

The ceremonies were held in the Renaissance Coliseum and parting words were delivered by the university's president, Gary Roberts. 

"Your education empowers you to succeed at whatever you choose to do and become leaders in whatever you choose," Roberts said.

Bradley has been named Best College Value by Kiplinger's Personal Finance, in addition to being sixth in student engagement by the Wall Street Journal and Time Higher Education

Graduate Taryn Gille earned her five-year accounting integrated bachelor's and master's degrees and has secured a job at Baker Tilly's Oak Broom in Illinois; she thanked her accounting professor for his aid.

"If it wasn’t for the friendships I made, the relationships formed with faculty and organizations I was involved with, I don’t think I would be as prepared for the real world as well as I am," Gille said.

Finally, Danielle Tolvstad, a double major in psychology and Spanish, echoed Gille's sentiments.

"Bradley's friendly and supportive environment helped me realize my full potential," she said. "Because of friends and faculty who took an interest in me, I’m more confident in who I am and what I can accomplish."