Mark P. Bunting, Vice President and General Manager of WSFA, encouraged graduates at Troy University’s Montgomery Campus to take what they have learned and use it to make an impact in their workplaces and their communities.

Speaking to more than 130 graduates during Monday night’s fall commencement ceremony, Bunting said he knows from experience that Troy University graduates are well equipped to be successful and make a difference.

“Many of you have plans. You have jobs ready and you know what you are going to do. Some of you might not yet, but you have a general idea of what you want to do. I am confident that wherever you are in the process, you will end up just fine,” he said. “I say this from true knowledge and understanding of what a Troy University graduate is. I run WSFA News, and I am pleased to report that we rely heavily on Troy University to provide us with young adults who’ve been well educated while studying at the Hall School of Journalism and Communication.”

Bunting noted that WSFA currently includes 15 TROY graduates on its staff, serving in roles in the station in sales, news and master control departments.

“I have told Dr. Hawkins on so many occasions that our TROY graduates are the best prepared and are job ready from day one. No other school in this state comes close,” Bunting said. “Troy University has consistently delivered quality employees to WSFA, and I am certain each of you, no matter where you will go, you will be regarded as such. I know this because I witness the quality of work from Troy University graduates every day.”

Bunting shared with graduates some thoughts and practices that have served him well throughout his career, beginning with the challenge to continue to pursue knowledge through reading and to approach their work with a can-do attitude.

“Read as much as you can and know more than the people who work for you or with you. Doing this increases your chances of leading rather than following. Knowledge is powerful,” he said. “When you are done with an assigned task at work, do not go and sit down and play on your phone or do something that isn’t related to work. Go to your supervisor, tell them that your tasks are completed and ask if there is anything else you can do. I promise you this is not the norm in the working world today, and it will make you stand out for all of the right reasons.”

Above all, Bunting encouraged graduates to live by The Golden Rule and treat all with kindness.

“No matter what your stature is in life, treat everyone kindly,” he said. “This means the CEO or the janitor. We are all just people so do not let one’s zip code, wealth, status or position determine how you choose to treat people. Treat people as you wish to be treated. I promise you that if you take that approach in everything you do, you cannot fail.”

In closing, Bunting paid tribute to his friend and colleague, Troy graduate and WSFA News Director Desmond Wingard, who passed away in October after a battle with cancer.

“I’ve never worked with anyone with more grit, determination and desire to succeed than this person,” Bunting said. “He had worked at WSFA for almost 26 years. It was his first job right out of college. Throughout his entire career at WSFA, he made sure his coworkers were informed, he treated them with respect, he offered to assist anyone who needed help. He did everything with grace, which is a rare trait these days.”

The poverty that exists within the River Region was a major concern for Wingard, and he acted not only to raise awareness of the issue through organizing news coverage about the topic but also organized fundraising efforts at the station to address the needs within the community. Those efforts not only included the station’s own fundraising events – the Summer Fund and Food Drive and 12’s Day of Giving – but also a Day of Action that brought government agencies and nonprofits together under one roof for a day of providing services to the underserved within the cities of Montgomery, Selma and Tuskegee.

“From his first day of work to his very last, he never stopped,” Bunting said. “Four days before he passed, he and I were in his hospital room, and he asked me to come closer. He said, ‘Mark, all I want to do is go back to work.’ That is nothing but pure commitment to a job that he loved. Desmond left his mark on WSFA and our community, and his contributions will never be forgotten.”

Bunting challenged graduates to go and make their own marks in life, much the way Wingard did throughout his life.

“Desmond Wingard is the definition of what a Troy University graduate is and should be. I challenge each of you to make your own mark in your place of employment, in your life and in your community,” he said. “Your Troy University diploma is more than just a piece of paper. It will be presented to you here today knowing that you now have your mind, body and heart ready to make a lasting impact on those around you. Go out and make your mark in this world and be grateful for the years that you have spent at Troy University Montgomery.”