At this moment, Richard Warren couldn’t be more proud of his daughter, Erica.

Two and half years ago, Erica gave birth to a baby boy, Gavin. But she didn’t let that stop her from continuing her education.  Around the same time Gavin was born, Erica enrolled at Crowder College.

And on Saturday, she joined nearly 100 other graduates and stepped up to receive her Associate of Arts degree, graduating with high honors.

“I feel pretty good about it,” said her father Richard, a Nevada resident. “I’m so proud of her — she’s come a long way. Hopefully this will take her to a good future.”

Erica will now attend Pittsburg State University to earn a bachelor’s and then a master’s degree in accounting.

Meanwhile, as Erica pursues those goals, Stephanie Miller will hopefully be working full-time at an area hospital. Miller received her nursing degree Saturday, after attending Crowder for the past three years.

“I feel pretty good — it’s been a long time coming!” she said after receiving her diploma.

Saturday marked only the fourth Fall commencement ceremony Crowder has hosted. About four-sevenths of the total 175 degree-earners donned the blue cap and gown to participate in the rite.

In a commencement speech that almost hinted political at some points, more fatherly at others, guest speaker state Rep. Kevin Wilson, R-Neosho, told the graduates to take responsibility for their own lives, accepting the consequences of their choices and not pointing fingers if things go wrong.

“But for you…you have not left your future in someone else’s hands but have taken a bold step to make good decisions, to accept responsibility and to reap the benefits of making good choices,” Wilson said. “That is the Crowder story — to give everyone in our community the tools to make the decisions that will influence the rest of your lives and the lives of your family. That is a positive story and one that needs to be told every day in every way — that your future is in your hands and is your responsibility, and yours alone. It’s not your parents’, not your spouses’, not your co-workers’, but yours’.”

He wrapped up the address by talking about “the power of three.”

After listing the “three things in life that once gone, never come back (time, words, opportunity),” the “three things in life that can destroy a person (anger, pride, unforgiveness),” the “three things in life that you should never lose (hope, peace, honesty),” the “three things in life that are most valuable (love, family/friends, kindness),” the “three things in life that are never certain (fortune, success, dreams),” and the “three things in life that make a person (commitment, sincerity, hard work),” Wilson shared the three words he said were a guide for his life: Wisdom, courage and strength.

“I ask God for the wisdom to make the right decisions, for the courage to act on those decisions and for the strength to sustain me as I live with those decisions,” Wilson said. “Each of you have shown these three attributes in your lives by reaching this point. Today, it is my prayer that you have wisdom, courage and strength every day of this journey we call life.”

Crowder President Dr. Alan Marble bid farewell to the graduates with a quote to “shoot for the moon, because if you miss you’ll hit the stars.”

“I hope that’s the great lesson you take from Crowder,” Marble said. “Dream big dreams, make big plans and believe enough in yourself to make those dreams come true.”