Brandon Liller (right), a non-traditional, first-generation college student was asked
by WVU Potomac State College President Dr. Jerry Wallace (left) to serve as the
keynote speaker during the 2025 Commencement Ceremony earlier this spring.
There’s a saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” which is exactly what this picture depicts, but to learn about each stroke life has painted for Brandon Liller, you’ll need a little background information, but instead of starting at the beginning, let’s begin in the middle.
Liller grew up in Keyser, W.Va. His mother worked at a local bank and his dad worked at the old Anchor Glass plant. Both of his biological parents and his stepdad have quietly been in his corner, cheering him on and always supporting him no matter what path he chose.
While in high school, Liller thought journalism was his career path, but a month after graduating in 1991, he was employed by Anchor Glass. At the time, he didn’t believe he needed college; after all, he was living at home, making great money, and life felt pretty good.
But four short years later, the plant shut down. “I had bills. I had debt. And I thought the college train had long since left the station,” Liller said.
Liller worked at parts stores, took odd jobs, fixed what was broken, and eventually found employment working for the Mineral County School system, giving him the stability he wanted.
On January 1, 1998, he met Tonya at a New Year’s Day party. They began dating later that year and in March 1999, they had their first son, Sean. They bought a home in 2001. Brian came later that year, and Aaron followed in 2003.
In his own words, Liller offered the following.
“For a long time, it was the five of us. We built a life full of love, laughter, struggles, and beautiful chaos. But in September of 2018, Tonya passed away. She was my wife for nearly 19 years, and the mother of our boys. Losing her felt like losing gravity. It nearly broke me. It left me with a house full of memories, three grieving sons, and a future I no longer recognized.
“By the summer of 2019, when I wasn’t looking for anything or anyone, I met Julie, and suddenly, I had someone to laugh with again. To share with. To hope with.
“She brought with her four kids of her own – Sarah, Seth, Sophia, and Solomon. And somehow, our paths aligned. Together, we’ve built a blended family that is loud, messy, challenging, and completely full of life!
“Julie was the driving force behind me getting both my knees replaced in 2020. She was also the one who encouraged me to go back to school. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She has been my best friend, my partner, and my greatest supporter every step of the way.
“Instead of spending recovery time sitting in front of a TV, I applied to Potomac State and was accepted. I became a full-time student while still working more than 40 hours a week. I juggled in-person classes and online classes, raised a houseful of teenagers, and kept up with the chaos of daily life.
“It was hard. Really hard. There were nights I didn’t think I could finish. Weeks where I barely slept. But I kept showing up because something in me had shifted.
“One of the first assignments you get in college is to introduce yourself and this has been my answer. ‘I’m Brandon. I’m a father. A grandfather. A boyfriend. A mechanic. A maintenance worker. A student. A widower. A friend. And now, a graduate.”’
And this brings us back to the beginning, to the story that Liller told to fellow graduates during the 2025 Commencement Ceremony at WVU Potomac State College. So, how did a non-traditional college student become the Keynote Speaker at a college graduation ceremony?
According to PSC Campus President, Dr. Jerry Wallace, “I met Brandon when I attended the annual Mineral County FFA Ham, Bacon & Egg auction earlier this spring, and as I often do when meeting our students for the first time, I asked him to tell me his story. Brandon’s story was amazing and inspiring – and I knew that others had to hear it, so I told him I would like for him to serve as the keynote speaker for this year’s graduation. He couldn’t believe when I asked him to speak, but nonetheless – he agreed.
Liller humbly began his speech in front of his family, classmates, classmates’ families, and others in attendance with the following:
“Good morning, everyone. My name is Brandon Liller. And as I stand here today, I’m just four days shy of my 52nd birthday. Let me begin by saying what an incredible honor it is to stand before you today. When Dr. Wallace asked me to speak at this year’s commencement, my first reaction was, ‘Me? Are you sure?’ After all, I’m not a professor. I’m not a CEO. I’m not a teacher… yet. I’m a full-time maintenance worker for the Mineral County Board of Education. I’ve worked behind the scenes in our school buildings since 2005, fixing what’s broken and keeping things running. But today, I’m here as a graduate. Dr. Wallace asked me to tell you my story, so that’s what I’ll do. And maybe in the middle of it, you’ll hear something that speaks to your own story.”’
By the time he completed his speech, many attendees in the audience were wiping away tears as Liller shared this advice from a life that didn’t go according to plan but still turned out meaningful.
“Don’t think it’s too late. It isn’t. Life will blindside you. Plans will fall apart. You’ll fail. You’ll grieve. That’s not weakness – that’s being alive. Don’t panic when things go off course. Some of the best parts of my story came from the detours. Show up. Even when you don’t feel like it. Celebrate simple victories and love deeply, patiently, and bravely. Even if it scares you.”
Now that you know the backstory, look at the picture again. Notice the camaraderie, the reassurance and encouragement being conveyed by Dr. Wallace (left) and the calm composure of Brandon who is about to give an accounting of raw emotions to total strangers. College, like life, is about the journey – learning, growing, and reacting to experiences in a positive way that offers hope, healing, and a bright future.