The youngest of nine children and the third to earn a college degree, Cindy Torres stood before hundreds of fellow graduates and their families Wednesday to share her insight.
Indiana University Northwest officials selected Torres, 21, a business major, to deliver the student address at the university’s 59th commencement ceremony held outside on the campus’ north side.
The Lake Central graduate, who lives in Schererville, talked about meeting academic goals, personal loss, and staying focused on the future ahead.
She concluded her speech in Spanish, offering thanks to her family for their support.
Torres has already lined up a job in the human resources department at grocery store Strack & Van Til, based in Highland.
Torres, who graduated with high distinction, said she stayed close to home because she was nervous to try a new environment. What sealed the deal were several scholarships she earned at IU Northwest.
“With all the scholarships I received, I had my entire tuition covered so I will be graduating debt-free.”
Navy veteran Bronson Bigbie, 28, of Lowell, served as a mass communications specialist, including his last post on the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier.
He finished his degree in three years, taking an extra course load.
Bigbie graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and a degree from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He’s heading to the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University.
IU Northwest made sense for Bigbie.
“I wanted to stay close to home and it was affordable. It had the degree that I thought was best for me – public affairs.”
His busy schedule continues in October when he marries Haley Feiler, of Highland Park, Illinois, who is graduating from IUN with a master’s degree in the fall.
Destinee Winger, 22, of Portage, has already launched a dessert business for showers and special occasions. Her dream is to open her own bakery in Portage.
“It would be tough, but it’s just in my heart,” she said.
Winger is president of her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority where she received its “Entrepreneur of the Year” award last year.
Meanwhile, Jodi Garcia, of Hobart, held roses and a teddy bear for her daughter Ella Garcia who received a degree in biology.
Jodi Garcia, dean at Longfellow New Tech Elementary in the Lake Ridge Schools, said her daughter will soon take the exam for admission into medical school.
Nearby, Apples Cullum Knapp, of Hobart, anxiously searched the lines of gowned students trying to find her daughter, Sierra Vasquez, 29. A brass quintet played “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” as Knapp talked about her daughter.
“She’s getting a BS in nursing and is already working at the hospital in Hobart,” she said.
What she couldn’t quite grasp was Sierra’s decision to marry her long-time boyfriend Michael Carpenter at 2 p.m. at the courthouse in Crown Point, just a few hours after graduation.
“I can’t believe she’s getting married,” Knapp said. “It’s such a wonderful day! I couldn’t be more proud of the woman she has become. She’s my rock.”
IUN officials said the Class of 2025 received 24 associate, 472 bachelor and 90 master’s degrees.
The youngest graduate was 20, while the oldest was 66 with women making up 76% percent of the graduates.
Of all the IU campuses, IU Northwest has the highest percentage of first-generation college students at nearly 30%. It also has the most underrepresented students of color at 46%.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter at the Post-Tribune.
