Good afternoon, and congratulations to the class of 2025. You did it. It’s an honor to share this experience with you, as I too, as Michelle said, was a Grandview Student many years ago, when it was called Grandview College. Since its inception in 1896, the university has undergone many changes such as having the first graduate in 1901, receiving full accreditation in 1975, and installing the university’s first female president, Michelle Keck, in 2022. You beat Des Moines. Along every turn, the university pivoted, found success, and continued forward. As a proud East-sider, and mayor of Des Moines, I cannot thank this university for the commitment they have made to Des Moines, and more specifically, the East Side.
After graduating East High, my plan was to go to Iowa State University and major in textiles and clothing so I could become a retail buyer. I started at Iowa State, transferred to Iowa, and left, got married in eight weeks. Was not too popular with my parents. I began a full-time work at Younkers, it was a local department store that some of you don’t even probably remember. My husband at the time enrolled full-time at Grandview, and I enrolled at night school, so that I could work full-time because somebody had to pay the bills.
As life happens, I was promoted to be a buyer. At Younkers, I began travelling extensively for my work. And then after 34 years, I had to change careers because they left Des Moines and went to Milwaukee, and I chose not to go. I had two daughters, I got divorced, remarried, I started a small business called Applishus, a concessions stand at the Iowa State Fair. Life got busy, and I quit going to night school. To this day, I have always regretted not pushing harder to get a degree. Even with my career accomplishments and being elected to public office many times, there was always a feeling that I should go back to school to get that piece of paper.
Many of you here today can probably relate, and reminisce on your life’s path, identifying life-changing events, blockades, and detours. Regardless of what has been thrown your way, being here today to receive your degree is a huge accomplishment and I applaud you for your determination and commitment.
No matter where life leads you, you should always have a set of core values you turn for guidance. Two of those values, for me, that have always remained, was my commitment to service, and really, hard work. I never thought I would be an elected official or even hold public office. I became engaged through volunteer work at my children’s school. I was a PTA mom. And in 1999, there was an initiative started to increase the sales tax, using those revenues to rebuild all of our schools in Polk County, and I was the parent rep on the school’s first campaign. Our first time out we lost by 43 votes, and that following November we went back out and we passed it by a very large margin. And this was my first experience with campaigning and getting a better understanding of how the community worked, and how when people come together, you can make a difference.
Because of my involvement in school issues, and people encouraging me, I decided to run for the Des Moines School Board. I secured a seat in 2003, and 14 years later, it was 2017, so 14 years on the Des Moines School Board is a pretty long time. I have always been a proponent of quality education for all. During my tenure with the Board, my goal was to expand education access, especially for the preschool students, to ensure that all Des Moines children could enter school with a strong educational foundation. I also have believed strongly that quality schools were integral to a successful community. I left the school board because I saw how decisions that the city was making was impacting our schools, so I decided to run for at-large Des Moines City Council pposition. My bid was successful, and I served as a councilmember for 7 years until I was elected mayor of this great city.
But if you had told me years ago that I would someday be the first female mayor of Des Moines and that I would be giving a commencement speech at Grandview University, I would’ve said no way. However, I’ve never felt so fulfilled in my work to make this city the best it can be for our residents. My story is a testament to letting things happen as they come. As my former boss always told us, be fixed in your goals but flexible in your approach.
As you sit here today, ready to enter the world as well-educated individual, I encourage you to examine your strengths, talents, and values, and see how to use them to serve your community. Graduates of Grandview are well-acquainted with the concept of vocation, as this term is central to the academic framework that Grandview University offers. Vocation, or a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation, is reinforced throughout the campus through academics, athletics, and activities, and I applaud Grandview for holding a vocation week each year, allowing students to experience what the true meaning is, and how you can devote your best self to something greater than you.
Between your core values and the university’s focus on vocation, you each have an unshakeable foundation for taking each opportunity to serve others while fulfilling yourself. I want to offer some values I believe all people should consider.
Leadership. Great leadership doesn’t always mean taking the top spot. It often means taking a backseat to support the work of others. We need leaders in all sectors to create progress driven by the knowledge and experience of various individuals. We must make an effort to unite people and support each perspective to develop well-informed positive improvements.
Community. Your community is where you anchor your roots for your family today and generations to come. To ensure a prosperous future, dedicate a part of your time to bettering your community. You might even run for local office or be a mayor someday. Learning doesn’t stop once you’ve fulfilled your academic goals and received your diploma. So knowledge becomes very important. Your community will always need forward thinkers who are willing to listen and understand and can innovate when needed. Never lose your curiosity. There is no limit to what opportunities might come your way.
Respect. Life doesn’t always involve easy conversations and decisions. Respecting those around you and understanding their perspectives is only one way to reach an agreement that values all parties’ needs.
Authenticity. The most valued person you can be is yourself. Bringing forward who you are, what you believe in is core to forging lifelong relationships with peers, coworkers, friends, and family members. Your network should be filled with individuals who can confidently say they know what you’re all about and will support you.
Collaboration. The most extraordinary ideas are formed by multiple minds. Having a well-rounded group of individuals to complete a task or project will result in the best outcome. Collaborative work acknowledges that you never have to do anything alone because we are better together.
Balance. Strike a balance between work and life. Take care of yourself so you can care for others. I think I’m still working on that work-life balance, but most importantly don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the ride.
And kindness. Last, but certainly not least. Be kind to others but most importantly, be kind to yourself.
As I look at this year’s graduates, I see a group of individuals set on creating a better future for yourselves and others. While I wish I could convince all of you to stay in Des Moines and be a part of this community after graduation, I know that you will go on to many different directions, but wherever you go, be a part of making your community the best it can be. So congratulations again, and skol vikes.
Neither the Catt Center nor Iowa State University is affiliated with any individual in the Archives or any political party. Inclusion in the Archives is not an endorsement by the center or the university.