Big Win. Big Week. Be Who You Are.
May 11, 2026
"I hope that you will be a light for all to see.
I hope you'll share that light with someone else.
I hope you'll make a home for those who feel alone.
But most of all, I hope you'll be Yourself."
— "The Art of Being," a song by Dr. Brendan Caldwell, BW Professor of Conducting at the May 9, 2026, Baccalaureate Service.
Good Morning BW,
Big Win!
Yesterday afternoon, BW defeated Ohio Northern 5–1 to secure our third straight OAC Baseball Championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament! Our team now awaits our tournament opponent to be announced later today.
(See BW Baseball Team Wins 3rd Straight OAC Championship)
Congratulations to these amazing student-athletes, to Coach Brian Harrison, in his 16th season as Head Baseball Coach at BW, and the entire coaching staff.
Our team was playing during Saturday's Spring Commencement, so the BW community is invited to celebrate the 13 BW Baseball Team seniors at a special Commencement Ceremony tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Knowlton Center.
Big Week!
This past week was a Big Week! It was the busiest week of the year with countless activities leading to Saturday afternoon's 176th Spring Commencement Ceremony, celebrating the Class of 2026. (See the recording of the commencement ceremony.)
Special thanks to Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem '96 for his inspiring Commencement Address.
We honored over 600 graduates, and gave special recognition to the 27 graduating women who were recipients of the White Rose, the 10 Outstanding Seniors with an average GPA of 3.98, the 97 summa cum laude graduates, 84 magna cum laude graduates, and 61 cum laude graduates; the 99 students inducted in the Dayton C. Miller Honor Society, the 17 Honors Program graduates, and Leah Kania '26, the winner of the Milton T. Baldwin Prize awarded to the graduate who has consistently held the highest grades (perfect GPA of 4.0) over four years.
On Friday evening, Interim Provost Cathy Dollard and I participated in the Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pinning Ceremony celebrating our 24 graduating nurses. The BW Nursing Program was ranked #1 in Ohio by RegisteredNursing.org for 2026!
On Saturday morning, my wife, Peggy Zone Fisher, who I often refer to as my "Presidential Partner," spoke at the 132nd White Rose Ceremony, held in memory of Philura Gould Baldwin, Class of 1886, the granddaughter of BW's founder, John Baldwin. 27 outstanding women graduates were honored for their exceptional service, leadership, and impact on the BW community.
Be Who You Are
On Saturday morning, I spoke at the Baccalaureate Service, led by Rev. CJ Harkness, Director of Culture and Spiritual Life. Dr. Brendan Caldwell, Professor of Conducting, gave an inspiring address, "Be Yourself," that included a great musical performance, "The Art of Being," by Dr. Caldwell and Kevin Hebovic '26.
In my final words to our graduates at Commencement, I reminded them that BW means Be Who You Are.
I told them that in a world filled with expectations, comparisons, and constant noise, it is anything but easy. Beneath the noise, underneath the expectations, there is a quieter voice — your voice. It reflects your values, your passions, your sense of purpose. It may not always be the loudest voice, but it is the truest one.
Being Who You Are may mean standing alone before others catch up. It may mean changing course when you discover new truths about yourself. The world does not need more imitation. So find your voice. And most importantly, listen to it.
And remember: You must always Get Better at Who You Are. You will grow. You will make mistakes. You will fail. You will learn. And sometimes, you will need to stop, reflect, and listen and think again.
In a world that will try to shape you, reshape you, and define you — have the courage to Be Who You Are.
With appreciation,
Lee Fisher
President, Baldwin Wallace University