With “The Force Awakens,” Episode VII, opening Dec. 18, “Star Wars” had seeped into Southwestern Michigan College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society induction.

SMC First Lady Sarah Mathews, speaking to 18 students at a ceremony Dec. 11 in Mathews Conference Center West on the Dowagiac campus, urged them to become “Jedi Masters” mentoring the next generation.

The family court prosecutor and Cass County Youth Council president called them to “be the miracle the world is looking for — the social worker who protects a child, the first responder who runs into the building to save lives, the Rotarian striving to eliminate polio, the doctor who finds a dementia cure, the teacher who cultivates a passion for learning, the author who stirs imagination, the political leader who stands for what is right instead of what is popular, the nurse who holds the hand of a patient, the Board of Trustees chairman who serves without pay for 50 years to ensure your community has access to affordable college education.”

“Do not stop until you achieve greatness,” she urged. “When you get there, cultivate greatness in others. To whom much is given, much is expected. Today, as SMC and PTK recognize you have great potential, in turn we expect you to become the next leaders and change the world for better. May the Force be with you.”

PTK values integrity, honesty and responsibility along with academic excellence.

“It sounds overwhelming, seeking perfection no one has,” Mathews said, “so think of it as joining one of the greatest stories of all time that shows the nature of the conflict between choosing good over evil and integrity and responsibility over domination and power — Star Wars.

“Luke Skywalker had the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, great Jedi Masters who understood the Force and not giving in to the dark side. He also had the offer of following his own father, Darth Vader, to have what seemed like unbeatable power. He had to choose. We know he ultimately chose the teachings of Yoda and Obi-Wan and not Darth Vader. He ultimately led Darth Vader to choose good in his final moments and allow rebel forces to defeat the empire.

“Even people with great potential themselves are often intimidated by great potential in others,” the co-valedictorian of Dowagiac’s Class of 2000 said. “Some will try to steer you in another direction. My high school guidance counselor told me because I came from a single-parent home it was foolish to want to go to a private college that cost money my family didn’t have. He wanted me to drop band for auto class because I would benefit more knowing how to change a tire than playing flute. My desire, then and now, is to be in the courtroom fighting to protect the children and families of Cass County.

“I ignored the counselor like Luke Skywalker ignored Han Solo and Uncle Owen, signed up for band, applied at Hope College, used scholarships, went to law school — second in her 2007 class of 243 at Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing — interned with the Attorney General’s office, the Michigan Supreme Court, for a U.S. Congressman, clerked for Circuit Judge Michael Dodge, became the first female Dowagiac city attorney and in 2014 joined Prosecutor Victor Fitz’s staff.

“You may be judged for coming from a two-year college. Be prepared to answer that challenge with integrity,” Mathews said. “You chose a college that gives the four-year university experience at an affordable price, ranks within the top six percent in the U.S. for transfer success, whose nursing graduates have a higher first-time pass rate on the registered nurse licensure examination than graduates of the state’s four-year nursing programs. You chose wisely to start your career path in a manner that would have you prepared but not burdened by so much student debt you could not afford to work in the job you want.”

Accepted into SMC’s Sigma Psi chapter are Sarah Aubin, Arrow Burkholder, Shelby Christensen, Stephanie Cole, Sarah Craft, Kaitlyn Eldridge, Alan Griffin, Megan Hildebrandt, Brandi Jarrell, Elizabeth Kelly, Baylee Makay, Ashley Matz, Iris Middaugh, Aidan Traynor, Cynthia Vasquez and Emily Whitehead.

Medallions were awarded to President Rebecca Hoekstra from Grand Rapids, who plans to continue to a bachelor’s degree in public and nonprofit administration, Vice President Keren Reyes and Secretary Sarah Aubin.