Dowd told the audience that he was thankful for his professors at Cumberlands, including Dr. Broome and Dr. Wake. He also asked students to find someone to be their own role model. “Find your own Dr. Broome. Find your own Dr. Wake,” he said.

During the service, members of the ROTC program presented an American flag to Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley in appreciation for his service to the country after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Croley spent two weeks in New York after the attacks, serving as a member of the disaster mortuary team.

Dowd is the Director for Logistics Engineering and Security Assistance of United States Pacific Command and is stationed at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. Dowd's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with six oak leaf clusters and the Army Achievement medal with four oak leaf clusters.

University of the Cumberlands, located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, is a private liberal arts college in its 117th year of operation. Cumberlands offers four undergraduate degrees in 37 major fields of study, 30 minors and nine pre-professional programs, as well as online and accelerated, nontraditional programs for adults.