NSU Fall Commencement 2005 Sees Record Number of Degrees

TAHLEQUAH - On Saturday, December 17, Northeastern State University conferred nearly 700 degrees to graduate candidates in three ceremonies, the largest fall commencement to date. One of those students was Koichi Iwasaki who made the bold move from his home in Hyogo in the summer of 2002 to join 44 other National Collegiate Network (NCN) students from Japan as part of NSU's inaugural English-as-Second Language program.

Like most of his NCN classmates, Iwasaki chose to continue his education at Northeastern once he passed his TOFEL test. For him, Northeastern offered an affordable, quality education and a small town atmosphere. "Northeastern was the most affordable option for me," he said. "Going to college in the United States would not have been possible otherwise."

Iwasaki wasn't sure what to expect when he made the trip from Japan to NSU three years ago. "It was like a completely different world, nothing like back home," remembered Iwasaki. "Learning English was the most difficult part, but I pushed myself really hard."

On Saturday, Iwasaki's hard work was rewarded at Northeastern's fall commencement ceremonies. The 22-year-old senior was one of nine NCN students who graduated ahead of schedule. Iwasaki is quick to thank his professors for their help in achieving this very important dream. "All my professors at Northeastern helped me through the transition, especially my English and Biology teachers."

The first of his family to receive a degree from a university in the United States, Iwasaki has already secured a job offer in Japan. Unsure whether he will accept the offer, Iwasaki feels confident knowing his education from Northeastern is already at work. According to University officials, eight of the graduating NCN students have accepted full-time positions in Japan and will be entering the labor force no later than April of next year.

"I think this is a very exciting time for both our students from NCN and Northeastern State University," said Bill Nowlin, NSU dean of Enrollment Management. "These students have been a wonderful addition to our campus and community. We have learned a lot from one another and it will have a positive impact on all of our lives."

Thanks to the combined efforts of the National Collegiate Network and The Learning Company (TLC), Northeastern State University continues to gain international appeal as an affordable option for higher education. Oklahoma's premier regional university currently serves more than 160 Japanese students.

12/20/2005

Published: 2005-12-20 00:00:00