CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Graduates of South Suburban College had a familiar face as their commencement speaker Sunday.
As the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Dr. Ngozi Ezike is someone who has been at the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and someone Illinoisans had seen regularly for the past 14 months.
it was a woman who has been on the front lines of the pandemic.
The keynote speaker told the class of 2021 and their families the virtual ceremony allowed them to skip the traditional lecture about holding their applause.
“Let your pride and your delight loose. I want all of Cook County to shake with all of the applause. and cheers,” Dr. Ezike said.
She encouraged the roughly 300 community college graduates to pursue their goals regardless of how they may change.
“I never thought of being the state’s public health director. Definitely not in Illinois when I’m from South Central Los Angeles. And I never, ever dreamed of helping to lead a state through a global pandemic,” Dr. Ezike continued.
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