Rhodin challenges Roanoke College graduates to be bold, change the world

Many of the world's greatest innovations happened in spite of naysayers. Take Fred Smith's economics term paper at Yale University that received a C grade. His ideas in that paper eventually became FedEx Corp.

"There will always be those around you that say 'no,'" said Michael Rhodin, senior vice president of IBM Watson, citing the FedEx example and others during his Commencement address at Roanoke College Saturday. "Let them question you, let them doubt you, but never never let them dissuade you."

Rhodin encouraged Roanoke's 446 graduates to believe that they can make a difference in the world, despite detractors.

"I know that a small group of people can change the world - It's the only thing that ever has," said Rhodin, whose IBM Watson is the only computer to beat human beings on the television show "Jeopardy!" It is considered one of IBM's most significant innovations.

Rhodin's daughter, Olivia Rhodin, was among the 2016 Roanoke graduates.

There were two valedictorians for the class of 2016 - Conner Britt Sprinkle of Troutville and Amanda Leigh Lundberg of Blacksburg.

Sprinkle, who majored in Sociology, will teach kindergarten this fall at Troutville Elementary School.

Lundberg, a Religious Studies major whose focus was Asian religions, attended Roanoke as a part-time student, while also working a part-time job. She is considering graduate school in the future.

Angela He Chen, of Lima, Peru, was the class of 2016 salutatorian. She is an Economics major who in addition to English, speaks Chinese and Spanish. She is seeking jobs in business consulting and operations strategy in New York City.

Rhodin and Dr. Elisabeth Gantt each received honorary Doctor of Science degrees during the ceremony. Gantt is a renowned plant biologist who is a Distinguished Professor Emerita of the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Maryland. Though officially retired, she works as a research associate in Roanoke College's Biology Department.

Two Roanoke faculty members also were honored on Saturday. Dr. Lynn Talbot, a professor of Spanish, received the Dean's Award for Exemplary Teaching. Dr. Michael Hakkenberg, a History professor and a long-time director of the College's Honors Program, received the Dean's Exemplary Service Award.