Preckwinkle to Harper grads: Rise above failure

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle touched on needing to rise above failure in her commencement address Saturday at Harper College in Palatine.

Preckwinkle was part of the inaugural graduation ceremony for about 650 students at Harper's new outdoor pavilion abutting a pond. Roughly 3,500 spectators attended the commencement.

Harper President Ken Ender introduced Preckwinkle, saying she's a Cook County leader who has championed fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability while improving services to taxpayers. He also told the crowd Preckwinkle is a former teacher who visited Harper long before Saturday's graduation.

"I was so proud when she accepted our (speaking) invitation," Ender said. "I asked her over a year ago because I was going to make sure we got her."

Preckwinkle began her speech by lauding the graduates for their achievement, particularly those who overcame financial or other hardships. She said community colleges help people obtain skills and education necessary to compete and win in a global economy.

She then let the students know they'll need to rise above failure at some point in their lives. She used herself as an example.

"Before I became Cook County Board president (in 2010), I was alderman of the 4th Ward in the city of Chicago for 19 years," Preckwinkle said. "I first decided to run in 1983. I lost. I also ran in 1987. I lost. I was elected in 1991 by 109 votes out of more than 11,000 cast. It's important to me to point that out - first to underscore the importance of supporting candidates and causes you believe in, and second, because I believe while life will not be without challenges, if you believe in something and are willing to work hard, you could accomplish it."

Toward the end of her address, Preckwinkle said graduates should start building personal networks of friends, colleagues, associates and mentors who can assist them throughout life. She reflected on how she occasionally speaks to a social studies teacher who got her involved in her first political campaign when she was 16.

"In life, there's very little that can be accomplished without collaboration and cooperation," Preckwinkle said. "And that definitely can be said for public service."

Saturday was Harper's 48th annual commencement. While not all attended the ceremony, about 3,500 graduates received transfer degrees, career and technical degrees and certificates for the 2015-16 academic season.