By Jeff Luttrell, Class of 1994
My time at Cumberland University taught me invaluable lessons on and off the ball field. Because of my degrees obtained in The Millard and JJ Oakley School of Humanities, Education & the Arts, I gained the knowledge and skills to run our Wilson County Schools and I have seen the direct impact of education. Graduation, without a doubt, is the premier achievement in a student’s life and should be commemorated. As a way to help honor that time, this week you have another chance to help pay it forward to our upcoming Cumberland University graduates in “The Final Stretch.” Today, it is my turn to introduce you to an exemplary future CU alumni with a very bright future.
Sydney Griffin has no doubt made her footprint on CU’s campus. As a Presidential Ambassador (PA) Leader, Student Alumni Ambassador (SAA), Assistant Editor for Lyre of the Phoenix, CU’s student journal, and an Editor for Novus Journal, a literary arts journal that publishes national and international poets, writers, and artists work, Sydney has positively affected many different areas at CU. Also, her acceptance into many honor societies—Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Gamma Beta Phi—have definitely echoed her success.
After graduation, Sydney will attend graduate school at the University of Tennessee Knoxville for communications with a focus on Public Relations. As Sydney continues the next chapter of her academic journey, Cumberland University will always be where her talents were fostered and given the chance to shine.
Stories like Sydney’s help nurture our Cumberland Family and provide inspiration to future students. The impressive opportunities that Sydney earned were only because of the unique experience offered to her by Cumberland University. My hope is that her story, along with the others this month, will encourage you to make a contribution to cover a student’s access fees, course fees, directed study courses, and/or graduation fees. Together, let’s help make “The Final Stretch” a tradition we can all get behind for years to come. Click here to show your support for the Class of 2024.