Going out on a high note

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ickebor Lorena Martinez, Ebony Collier and Carson Sowers may have been nervous as they prepared to participate in their Purdue Global commencement ceremonies.

The three weren’t being acknowledged just for completing their studies. They were also setting the tone by starting the ceremonies with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

Purdue Global adds student touches throughout its commencement ceremonies. The commencement team has an audition call for students interested in singing the national anthem. Students submit a recording of themselves singing the anthem, followed by a panel review.

Once selected, the students continue to practice the song because they want their fellow students to have a memorable commencement as well. 

Ickebor Lorena Martinez: ‘My mom’s going to be there watching me graduate.’

“The Star-Spangled Banner” is a special song to Martinez’s family. 

Martinez’s mother, father and brother sought political asylum as they fled the political violence of Nicaragua. Martinez and her sister were born in the Miami area, but grew up witnessing the hard work involved to be successful in the U.S.  

“I’m singing the national anthem to honor my mom and my daughter and my country,” Martinez said. “My mom worked so hard to make a life here. She recently became a U.S. citizen; she loves the U.S.”

Singing is a way to say thank you for all of the opportunities.

“Just like the gratitude that I have for my mom, having made her way over here to raise her family here, knowing that we would have bigger opportunities and knowing that I’m able to do this and I, I get to live here because my mom made a huge sacrifice and my mom’s going to be there watching me graduate.”

Martinez, of Miami, works for a health care organization. She earned her Bachelor of Science in health care administration.

Her journey back to school and eventually Purdue Global began in earnest while she was working on general administrative work at a South Florida engineering firm.

“I needed to be able to do more. I felt I had more in me.”

As she was working on her degree, she applied to the health care organization and was hired as an executive assistant to the chief medical officer.
“I believe that obtaining my degree is going to put me as the ideal candidate to step into those roles,” she said.

Singing has been something that Martinez did for fun, until a teacher heard her singing in the school hallway and encouraged her to try out for the school choir. 

She has been asked to perform at various events. When she was in her 30s, she began attending a local church and singing in the choir and with the music/praise team. 

“I have been able to work with very amazingly talented musicians and engineers that serve and volunteer at the church that I would have never imagined,” Martinez said. “It’s a personal experience for me.”

She is looking forward to sharing the singing experience in front of her mom and daughter Melody. 

Ebony Collier: ‘Blessed to have this opportunity’

Collier of South Chicago Heights, Illinois, has sung the national anthem at numerous sporting events, but she says the opportunity to sing at her commencement ceremony is special for her.

“I love to sing, so being able to open up for this ceremony is like a dream come true.”

Collier earned her Master of Science in human services with a concentration on family and community services. 

“All that consumes my mind is how much of an accomplishment this is for me. I made up my mind that after receiving my bachelor’s degree I wouldn’t continue for a master’s degree, but I kept going. I’m so glad that I did,” she said.

She enjoys singing at her church, where she serves as a pastor alongside her husband, Pastor Jeremee Collier. But for this ceremony, she is rehearsing while preparing herself mentally and physically. 

Following graduation, she wants to use her degree to advocate for children and their families, hoping to work as a daycare center licensing representative for Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services. Collier also wants to launch a not-for-profit organization in honor of her son, Jorden, which focuses on providing resources to families with autistic children. 

In Collier’s mind, Purdue Global is definitely all about comebacks. While on a break from school, she heard about Purdue Global and began working to complete her degrees. She enjoyed engaging with classmates and faculty members.

“I will forever be grateful to be an alumni of such an amazing university,” Collier said. 

Carson Sowers: ‘Like a dream come true’

Sowers of Lexington, Virginia, is following his own advice: No matter how young or old you may be, you should take every opportunity that comes your way.

And he is taking the opportunity to sing the national anthem at his commencement ceremony, thanks to Lisa Hone, a Purdue Global professor in the School of Business and Information Technology, who knew of his musical skills and encouraged him to audition for the role.

“Here we are now and it feels, honestly, like a dream come true,” Sowers said. “It’s very surreal to be given this opportunity.”

He was an alto saxophone player in middle school before becoming a vocalist, posting his music online as well as performing in musicals. 

Following his rendition of the national anthem, Sowers earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resources with a focus in international business. 

After he was notified that he would be a singer, he practiced at least twice a day.

“The one thing with being a musician is that no matter how well you know a song or how many times you read a music sheet, you still need to put in that effort to practice,” Sowers said. “The reason why is because it’s very easy to forget something small or important just like that. Andrea Bocelli, who is an Italian singer, tells his fans make sure that you practice, and you persevere throughout your musical journey.”

Sowers said learning how faculty members got into their career fields before teaching was among the best part of his time at Purdue Global. Another aspect was the ability to work with Purdue Global staff in transferring previously earned credits over to the degree program, which he completed in two years.  

His goal is now to work in another country, specializing in human resources and helping employees become the best version of themselves. His father is a Marine Corps veteran who served in numerous countries abroad.

“I feel a sense of inspiration by him to take every chance that I can to travel to different countries, whether it’s for work or vacation,” he said. “I want to be able to learn about different work cultures globally and potentially adopt those cultures into my work life.”

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.