Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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Sweating it out Graduates bear the heat of uncertain futures A .s 439 graduates perspired under commencement gowns, thoughts of satisfaction and gratification filled their minds. Although some couldn ' t shake the desire to be somewhere else, other graduates used the time for contemplating the future and reflecting on the past. The May 9 ceremonies marked the 81st spring Com- mencement exercises. More importantly, they marked both an ending and a begin- ning for graduates. 1 wish my parents could have shared the proudest day of my life, Hong Kok said. Still, there were so many questions. 1 wondered, what now? Where do 1 go from here? Others related to Kok ' s uncertainty. 1 was ready to get out of school, but i wasn ' t really sure if 1 was prepared for the future, Jodi Brady said. When 1 looked back on my college years, I couldn ' t real- ly think of anything 1 had learned to prepare me for that step. Ready or not, graduation day had finally arrived. Seniors had looked forward to the day since the begin- ning of their senior year and some since their freshman year. The commencement ad- dress was delivered by Mis- souri Secretary of State Roy Blunt. In his speech he fo- cused on computers and praised Northwest for ad- vancing into the computer age with the Electronic Campus. Although computerization was an important issue for the University, some gradu- ates felt the topic was over- used during Commence- ment exercises. I thought spring gradua- tion ceremonies had nothing to do with the graduating seniors, Kirby Small said. All they were doing was rant- ing and raving about the Electronic Campus, and none of the graduates were able to use it. As graduates listened to an address some thought didn ' t apply to their class, the heat added to the annoy- ance. It seemed long, and it was incredibly hot, Tina Steinke said. But I wore shorts under my gown, so I was more comfortable than some. espite the heat, most graduates were glad they went through the ceremony. College would have seemed incomplete if I hadn ' t gone through it, Steinke said. Other graduates went through the ceremony to please their parents. A majority of graduates just went through Com- mencement ceremonies be- cause their parents hadn ' t gone to college, and they wanted to see their kids graduate, Brady said. Whether they wanted to be there didn ' t matter to graduates who still ex- perienced excitement, spec- ulation or sadness. Part of them tried to hold back tears D ' during their good-byes while helping friends fix collars and tassles. Others reflected on regrets, thinking there had been things they would have done differently. L ooking back, I wish I ' d have taken things a little more seriously during my freshman and sophomore years, Dawn Prall said. Also, I think 1 would have gotten more out of it if I had taken more classes that interested me outside my major. Many considered their fu- tures. Was the next step getting a job, marriage or an- other degree? Jobs were becoming specialized, so we had to be specialized in our areas, Bra- dy said. I wasn ' t really wor- ried about where I ' d be be- cause I knew I couldn ' t get a job without my master ' s. I knew I ' d be back. Others felt they were ready to join in the working class without obtaining another degree. I was looking forward to getting into the job market, Andrea Maxwell said. Gntil they realized the graduates crossing the stage were their classmates, some hadn ' t put much thought into the future. It hadn ' t really hit me that I was graduating, Cathi Jones said. It was really exciting. Whether their discomfort was caused by the heat of Lamkin Gym or uncertainty about their lives. Northwest ' s newest alumni realized they were doing more than just stepping across a stage. They were stepping across the threshold of their futures. D Teresa Mattson ■y:--. i . 2.2. Graduation

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With a bored expression, Dave Maytes looks over his news- paper to see if his terminal is back in service. When the VAX system shut down, it delayed many students. Photo by Mark Strecker Providing a demonstration of the Electronic Campus, Stacy Lee explains the VAX system to Gov John Ashcroft. The gover- nor attended opening ceremo- nies for the system and official- ly switched on the Electronic Campus. Photo by Mark Strecker Keying in part of Shirley Rey- nolds ' paper, Nedal Almobaied edits mistakes. Assistance was available in B.D. Owens Library. Photo by Mark Streckei Electronic Campus 2 1

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Elation fills the air as graduates realize their accomplishments. Sandy Link received a hug from fellow Wesley Center peer minister Brad Baier after the ceremony. Photo by Nancy Meyer Graduates pour out of Lamkin Gymnasium after Graduation. The cool air was a relief from the heat during the ceremony. Photo by Nancy Aleyer Before Commencement, grad- uating seniors li ne the sidewalk from Lamkin Gymnasium to the Student Union. Rob Goo- dale, Jay Wieslander and Brad Mackey filled out pronunciation cards while waiting to start the procession. Photo by Nancy Meyer Graduating seniors are not the only people recognized during Commencement. Esther Burle- son stood proudly after receiv- ing her Master ' s degree. Pho- to by Nancy Meyer Graduation 23