An Abraham Lincoln expert gave University of Illinois at Springfield graduates a different reason to be proud of their accomplishments during his commencement address Saturday.

Lincoln authority Harold Holzer told the students that they walked through the mists of history in Springfield in their daily challenges, even though they were standing in the capital city 142 years after the former president left home for his inauguration.

"For four years, you've enjoyed a rare and precious gift, which anyone who writes about Lincoln would give years of his own life to experience," said Holzer, who turned down a position as director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum earlier this year. "The privilege of walking on the hallowed ground where Lincoln once walked, of absorbing knowledge and experience in the inspiring shadow of one of the world's most unforgettable figures."

Holzer is co-chairman of the U.S. Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and has written several books on the former president. He serves as vice president for communications and marketing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

His speech resonated with Sunil Pala, who received his master's degree in computer science during the ceremony. The India native said one of the reasons he decided to attend UIS was because of its location in Lincoln's hometown. Pala remembers studying Lincoln when he was a child and was always struck with Lincoln's hard work, teachings and words of encouragement.

"I'm impressed by Lincoln's words," Pala said. "In fact, I'm proud to be studying in Springfield.

"(Lincoln) was like something like a dream for me."

Another UIS student was surprised to hear the focus of the commencement address was on Lincoln.

"I didn't know Lincoln was that big of a deal here," said former Jacksonville resident Mandy Cook, who received her master's degree in biology.

Holzer tried to impart some Lincoln facts to the crowd by sharing some responses American middle school students sent him about Lincoln. They wrote that he was born in a log cabin that he built with his own hands and that he freed the slaves by signing the Emasculation Proclamation. They also wrote that Lincoln went to a theater and was shot by one of the actors in the movie, which in turn ruined the actor's career.

Holzer had to give his Lincoln speech twice Saturday after stormy weather forced administrators to move the ceremony from Kiwanis Stadium indoors to Sangamon Auditorium. The commencement had to be split up into two ceremonies to accommodate all the students and their family and friends in the auditorium. The ceremonies for the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Education and Human Services were in the morning. The Colleges of Business and Management and Public Affairs and Administration had their ceremonies in the afternoon.

The morning ceremony was like most graduation rituals. Students in black gowns and caps filled the seats in the front of the auditorium. Many of them turned around before the ceremony and tried to spot their relatives. A few babies and toddlers gave an occasional cry or scream during the commencement, and there were even a few teary-eyed parents in the crowd.

Cook and her friend Nichole Cosenza made it slightly easier for their families to spot them during the ceremonies. The graduates, who both received master's degrees in biology, stuck neon orange biohazard stickers to the top of their caps.

"We wanted to do something to lighten up the ceremony a little bit and because we're in biology, we thought it would be awesome to have biohazard stickers on our hats," Cook said.

Cook and Cosenza are neighbors and were planning on having a barbecue at their house after the ceremony. Many of the graduates joined their families and friends for a reception in the Public Affairs Center following the ceremony.

Graduate Nicolette Lovingood said she spent most of the ceremony thinking about all the personal challenges she had to overcome to receive her diploma. Her apartment burned down in September, leaving her and her three children homeless for a month and a half. She received an incomplete in one class and was later able to earn an A minus in it.

Lovingood received a bachelor's degree in social work Saturday. She sat by friends during the ceremony and made a point of applauding the black men who walked across the stage. She said it was uplifting to see several black men earn their degrees because she said many begin college but don't follow through for one reason or another.

"We really made sure we clapped for the black men who graduated," Lovingood said. "It really made me happy to see so many black graduates this year."

Before the graduates left the auditorium, Holzer reminded them that there is unfinished work to be done. He told the graduates he hoped they would complete their work with Lincoln's heart in mind and do it with malice toward none, charity for all and a shared belief that the best is yet to be.

Ginny Skalski can be reached at 788-1526 or ginny.skalski@sj-r.com.