Tonight, I’m being honored by Benedictine University as a Visionary Alumni – “one who displays leadership and innovation in their career field as well as personal dedication to philanthropic endeavors.”
I’ve never taken education for granted. As the first person in my family to graduate from college, my father expected me to use my education as a springboard for meaningful contribution in the world. Although he wasn’t able to finish college, he was a visionary mentor – thinking about my future with imagination and wisdom. I have expected the same of my children – Laura and Lindsay have Masters degrees, and Matt will receive an undergraduate degree in May.
I’ve always been hungry for learning. I started graduate work at two other universities, but never felt intellectually challenged. Benedictine provided perspective, skills and language to make sense of all the stuff I’d been doing on the job for years. In my very first class, everything clicked, and I knew I’d found the right place. The world had changed a great deal in the time between my undergraduate and graduate work, and Benedictine helped refresh my skills and keep me relevant in my field.
When I received my Masters in Management and Organization Behavior (MSMOB) in 2011, I didn’t walk alone. I walked with other students, including Judy Busby, who had challenged me to learn and grow. I walked with professors like Therese Yaeger who created exceptional learning environments. I walked with my daughter, Laura Yudys, who challenged me to return to grad school so we could walk together at graduation. I walked figuratively with many others: my husband, Bill, who, when receiving his masters 20+ years earlier said, “No one can take this away from me”. On that day, I understood what he meant; I walked with my parents, other family members and friends who had encouraged me along the way; I walked with colleagues, including Bob Roberts, PhD – a mentor who introduced me to Benedictine and Deb Bragg, MSMOB, who encouraged me to enroll in the program.
My Masters degree is one of the crowning achievements of my life, and I gratefully accept the responsibility that comes with being a visionary.
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Deb Hornell is a visionary whose personal brand of “Cultivating Environments for Growth” extends into her consulting practice, her family and friendships, and her book: "Good Things for a Full Life."
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