The 50th Annual Three Rivers College Commencement Ceremony on Friday was a celebration.
From Keynote Speaker and 2018 Distinguished Alumni Karon Campbell reminiscing about the time Willie Nelson came to town, to President Dr. Wesley Payne spotlighting those who earned diplomas in non-traditional ways, this year's graduates were entertained, honored and encouraged throughout the night.
One graduate whose accomplishments Payne chose to recognize was Taylor Francisco.
When she was 15-years-old and a sophomore at Poplar Bluff High School, then Taylor Barker found out she was pregnant. She handled the situation with grace, Payne said, and continued to excel during her high school career.
Francisco was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated in 2016 with honors as her daughter Anslee watched from the audience.
After high school, Francisco married Anslee's father, Tristan, and the trio became a family, said Payne. While earning her Associates degree, the young mom worked full-time at First Midwest Bank, fulfilled her roles as a wife and mother, and somehow managed to succeed as a college student.
In September, the Franciscos will become a family of four, as a little boy is on the way.
"I'm pretty busy, but I'm sure there are other people out there who are busier than me," she said.
Francisco's daughter again was in the audience to watch her mother cross the stage at the Black River Coliseum, this time wearing black and gold instead of maroon and white.
"I hope to teach (Anslee) to never stop trying no matter what comes in her way and always trust that your faith will get you through it," Francisco said.
Though she doesn't yet know which career path she will pursue, Francisco plans to continue her education at a four-year institution and earn a Bachelors degree. Francisco said serving as a positive example for her 5-year-old daughter is her ultimate goal.
"You have to keep pushing forward," she added. "You can't stop and still expect it to get done."
Before her passion for cooking became her career, Campbell was a student at Three Rivers College, earning three degrees along the way. Now the owner of Tasteful Creations Catering, Campbell prepares meals for nearly 500 events each year.
She said prior to delivering the Keynote Address, she asked those closest to her for advice on what to say. Responses ranged from, "say something funny," to "make it philosophical," to "keep it short," from her daughter who is expected to go into labor any day now, she said.
Campbell did her best to incorporate all the requests into her speech.
"You are our future," she told the graduates. "You will be paying my social security check, so get up and go to work!"
She quoted the late Barbara Bush in an effort to remind the room to always remember success starts at home, saying, "You must read to your children and you must hug your children and you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House, but on what happens inside your house."
Campbell also used the opportunity to instill upon the graduates the importance of making decisions which serve their happiness. She discussed her days substitute teaching, serving as a medical professional and working on the farm with her husband, BJ, all in less than 15 minutes.
There were many other accomplishments recognized during the ceremony, including three area high school students who were graduating with Associate degrees within days of earning their high school diplomas. Payne said Kaylee Harris, Kaley Thies, and Brooklyn Loftis utilized the accessibility of the Dual Credit program offered by Three Rivers to get a jump on the future.
While approximately 300 students walked across the stage Friday, in 2018 more than 400 earned degrees from Three Rivers College. Campbell said of everyone celebrating an achievement, she hopes they will give back to their communities and never forget where they came from.