Eleni Miller ’25MSN spoke to fellow graduates on Saturday, May 10, 2025, as the Woods Online and Graduate student speaker for the 3 p.m. ceremony.
Good afternoon. President Randolph, esteemed faculty, family, friends and – most importantly – graduates of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods:
Today means something different to each of us. As creations of God, each of us is a unique version of His image. We don’t share the same backgrounds. Or journeys. Every one of us has faced varying challenges to reach this mark on which we stand. Some of us are just beginning our careers, while still others have made the sacrifices required to expand our careers to new levels.
We stand at the threshold of a new chapter of our lives. This institution and its people has equipped us with knowledge, tools and values that allow us to make a difference. However, powerful tools and knowledge can be used both for good and ill. This is where the values Saint Mary-of-the-Woods has instilled in us come in.
At the end of the day, knowledge and tools are mere means – albeit powerful ones – to an end. Without the values that derive from faith in the Divine, they are next to useless.
The times we live in are a cyclone of confusion and change. Many feel vulnerable. But as we leave the nurturing environment of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, we are fortunate to be clothed in the armor of the faith-based values instilled in us by our beloved alma mater.
My personal journey is a case in point. I came here after being repeatedly told that the dream of graduate studies at this stage of life was, at best, a pipe dream. It was pounded into me that the responsibilities of motherhood to three school-aged daughters and full-time work made my dream unattainable. The fact that I had attempted other graduate nursing programs – where I felt like just another faceless student – seemed to confirm this. Were it not for the individualized support and encouragement of the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods faculty, my dreams would still be treading water. At points where things seemed darkest and I truly wanted to give up, our faculty took the time to listen and make the accommodations necessary for me to again emerge into the light. And to carry on.
This has been more than just a nursing program for me. Like all of you, I have been given the tools to advance in my field. But more importantly, the concern and compassion I have experienced here has imbued me with the passion to go forth, to pay it forward and to change the world for the better person by person. As we step forth today, remember that changing the world is effected one person at a time and that being a leader who embodies the values of this institution means being, above all else, a servant.
We emerge into a world hurting in many ways. Let us resolve to be buffers against the social injustices, alienation and environmental depredations that roil our nation and planet. Stand for others. Act with purpose. Above all else, continue to be open to new ideas and to growth in both virtue and knowledge. This is not the end of our journey. It is simply a pause that allows us to rightly savor and celebrate our accomplishments. But a new journey nears. As we venture out, remember that education is not just about what we have learned, but about how we choose to apply that knowledge to create a more just, compassionate and sustainable world.
I would like to close with the words of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods: “Let us hope that the few seeds sown may not remain unproductive of fruit.” Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is a relatively small school. Comparatively, our graduates are few. And yet, as Saint Mother Theodore and Jesus Himself remind us, even the smallest seeds can produce trees that bear abundant fruit. In the 7th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, verse 20, Jesus tells us, “…by their fruits you will know them.” Though we are few, our impact on the world can be great. Let every one of us strive to be productive, so that by our “fruits” all may know that we are alumni of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College! May God bless us all.
Eleni Miller ’25MSN has earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) focus from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Miller received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University School of Nursing in 2006. She has worked as a registered nurse in numerous settings, including Level 1 Pediatric Trauma, Pediatric Primary Care, Neonatal Intensive Care and most recently, School Nursing. Miller currently works for the Vigo County School Corporation, where she serves as Chairperson of Health and Nursing Services. Miller prides herself in being a devoted mother to her three beautiful and talented daughters, Zoe, Anna and Bella. She enjoys spending time with her family and experiencing as many new opportunities as possible. She looks forward to pursuing her advanced practice career by continuing to embody the values of SMWC and helping others along the way.
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