NSUBA graduates 370 during commencement ceremony

Broken Arrow, Okla. May 9, 2011 marked the end of a journey for Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow graduates.During a pleasantly warm and windy evening, 370 undergraduate and graduate students processed through commencement at the Union Multi-purpose Activity Center in Tulsa on Monday.

The facility was full of proud families and expectant students eager to cross the threshold and receive their degrees, NSU President Don Betz said.

With attendance just under 5,000 guests, the graduation ceremony was memorable the spring 2011 class is among the largest to graduate from NSUBA.

Looking out at the almost 400 graduates Monday evening and considering all of the lives those graduates will touch in the coming years, it is humbling to know NSU faculty, staff and administration were a part of something so significant, said Dr. Christee Jenlink, dean of NSUBA.

Keynote speaker Dr. Clarence Oliver, dean emeritus at Oral Roberts University, spoke of perseverance in his words "never, never, never, never give up", a famous line from Winston Churchill.

We genuinely appreciate Dr. Oliver sharing his experience and lessons from history with our graduates and the thousands who gathered at the UMAC for NSUBA's spring commencement, said Betz.

The evenings student speaker Avery Chambers, recipient of the prestigious Jack L. Haney award, brought humor as he spoke of his class assignment with Curious George and his imitation of Dr. Linda Wilson's expression, "I love it, I love it, I absolutely love it."

With a desire to cross the stage, all graduates made their way to the front, but none as urgently as the lone master's candidate from the College of Science and Health Professions, who ran from his seat to the stage and back.

For the staff and faculty at NSUBA, commencement symbolizes the turning of a page in the graduates' lives.

"It is an honor to assist all students on their journey toward their degree," said Jerrett Phillips, director of enrollment management at NSUBA. "We find great joy in our roles making commencement a memorable experience for our students and their families. We are grateful for the opportunity to support them as they embark on life's journeys."

Chambers, a transfer student from Tulsa Community College to NSU and an example of the institutions' commitment to excellence, spoke of his seamless transition to the four-year university, giving testimony that risks are inevitable and obstacles should not be feared.

"You have to be able to take challenges, said Chambers. Believe in yourself, follow your passion and leap out there with all your heart."