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Teacher Honored by Monmouth College
Monmouth College has once again used its commencement ceremony to honor someone that the college says simply helps the graduating class become who they are.

The College issued one of two honorary degrees given at every ceremony to a grade- or high-school teacher of one of the graduates. This year's degree was given to Doctor Heather Brown, a literature teacher at Woodstock High School.

Brown was nominated by graduate, Kate Griffith.

"Dr. Brown has been a true inspiration to me," Griffith said. "She is a lot of the reason why I will be teaching high school English this coming fall."

Brown, who confessed that she doesn't think she was that good of a teacher the first few years she taught, says she stuck with it for the same reason the graduates should stick with what they will end up doing.

"If you are not passionate about what you do, joy turns quickly into drudgery," Brown told the graduates. "I have the privilege of waking up each morning to a new adventure in teaching. It's hardly an original idea, but it's true. If you find an occupation that you're passionate about, you will never have to work a day in your life."

Brown quoted the Jimmy Buffett song "It's My Job" when she said to the graduates, "It's my job to be better than the rest/And that makes a day for me."

To listen to the nomination and Brown's speech, CLICK HERE.


(Dr. Heather Brown speaks at Sunday's Monmouth College Commencement ceremony. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.)
05 17 10 by Newsroom
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