Haslag Delivers Student Remarks at Commencement

December 15, 2018

Erica Haslag of Linn, MO delivered a heartfelt speech to her fellow students at Bradley University's winter commencement ceremony on December, 15. Haslag graduated summa cum laude with a double major in actuarial sciences and finance and she has been a part of the honors program. She was also an award-winning volleyball player at Bradley.

Her speech centered around how Bradley became a family and the lessons she learned from her new Bradley family. Haslag said "For the first time in my life, I saw perspectives I had never previously understood or took the time to listen to. I encourage everyone in this room to seek other people's opinions and perspectives and learn from them. In group meetings, class projects, and soon in the workplace for all of us, we will be surrounded by people with different views and ways to tackle assignments and if we all use our strengths in unison, we will create something way bigger than we ever thought we would. Find people who have common goals and use your unique ways to help each other get there. Come together to join a cause that will make a positive impact on this earth. Find a way to leave a footprint on your workplaces -- your families -- your neighbors -- your friends the way you found a way to leave a footprint at Bradley. Bradley University taught me how to be open to collaboration and to find people who challenge me and that has changed my life forever."

She encouraged her fellow graduates to never give up. "I hope what we can take from this is to find a dream for ourselves, then reach a little higher, and find something we believe is out of reach -- remember, with some persistence, hard work, big dreams, and a great group of people surrounding you, you will be successful. If Bradley University taught me one thing in these four years it is to dream big, never give up hope, and trust the process!"

Erica will be attending the University of Tampa for graduate school where she will play D-1 sand volleyball.

She received Bradley's most outstanding female athlete in 2017, this year she was a first team all Missouri Valley Conference selection, and selected twice as MVC Academic All-Conference Award recipient.

Erica was a student body representative on student senate, a member of beta gamma sigma, gamma iota sigma and she participated in a mission trip to Puerto Rico to assist with hurricane relief.