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Gregory
J. Blythe, a biology
major from Cedar Rapids, excelled in Mount Mercy’s classrooms
and in the athletic arena as an integral member of the Mustang
men’s cross
country and track
and field teams. Blythe’s intelligence, determination,
and work ethic have resulted in his earning acceptance to
medical school at Des Moines University. Most recently he
participated in Undergraduate Scholars Day, presenting his
research on “Identification of Complementing SUMO Transgenes
in Arabidopsis thaliana” that he completed
as part of an internship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. |
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Gregory
L. Blythe |
Blythe is
recognized today with “The Biology Student Award”
for his efforts in the classroom. Blythe is also a standout on
the men’s cross country team. He is a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete
and was the team’s most improved performer in 2006. In 2005,
Blythe was named as the team’s NAIA Champion of Character.
In track and field, Blythe helped the 4x400 meter relay team to
a Midwest Classic Conference indoor title in 2006 and was an academic
all-conference selection.
Excerpts
from Blythe's Speech:
"I waited until about 2 hours before my deadline to decide
I was going Des Moines University for medical school. Who knows
if that was the right choice for me and how it is going to work
out. The point is, I stand before you with 22 years of wisdom
and I can honestly say, I have no idea how my life will truly
unfold and that is ok. The one thing I do know, however, is that
my experiences at Mount Mercy have engrained in me a passion for
learning and prepared me to take the next step in my lifelong
education. I believe this is put best by Albert Einstein when
he said, 'Wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong
attempt to acquire it.'
...."My
point is that it is never too late to learn, and there is never
a milestone that should end your education. With the world moving
faster than ever, I encourage you to remain dynamic, stay open
to new ideas and decisions, and remember your goals and dreams
that have gotten you this far.
As we grow
older, memories of Mount Mercy will fade and time will pass. Don’t
stand by letting opportunities come and go. As Mount Mercy alum,
I encourage you to take active roles in your lives, be leaders
in your communities, continue to share the education and values
you’ve gained at Mount Mercy, and most of all, continue
in your “lifelong attempt of acquiring wisdom.”
Thank you
and congratulations to each of you who are graduating today.
