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

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A sunny goodbye For the first time in two years it did not rain on their parade and graduation went off without a hitch. It really didn ' t take that long, Beth Ceperley said, and it was a rather enjoyable program It wasn ' t that boring Nothing really spectacular happened. No one seemed to make a big deal out of it like they do in high school, Rod Nelson said. Before the 453 graduates received their diplomas, they listened to E. Thomas Coleman, Missouri ' s Sixth District con- gressman, give the commence- ment address. He told the graduates, their friends and families that the challenge of the 1980s is for a renewal of the spirit and independence in the Ameri- can people. It was we the people who built this country and not the govern- ment, and it is we the people who must again declare our independ- ence and demand more control over our lives, Coleman said. The Missouri congressman called the social upheaval of the 1960s a time of social awakening to some critical problems. How- ever, the government had intrud- ed into every part of American life, he said. Coleman then told the grad- uates that the major problems they would face in the upcoming decade were inflation, energy and the increasing lack of respect for the United States. Although these issues might not be as glamorous as issues of earlier decades, Coleman said, they were more fundamental and important. Mattie Dykes, a 1919 graduate and professor emeritus of ' Eng- lish, also spoke to the graduating class. She received the Distin- guished Alumni and Distin- guished Service Award from the University. After Dykes finished her address and the diplomas were handed out, the graduates filed out of Lamkin Gymnasium. I felt relieved that I didn ' t have to come back to school again, Nelson said. -Dave Gieseke DURING GRADUATION cere- monies, Tim Barksdale waits with other graduates to sit down Barksdale wore his cowboy hat throughout the ceremony. GRADUATION 19

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FortI did not and? PRESIDENT B.D. OWENS helps Mattie Dykes to the lecturn during graduation ceremonies. Dykes, graduate and former professor, received the Distinguished Alum- ni and Distinguished Service Award from the University.

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s DURING SUMMER BAND CAMP, Byron Mitchell applies the finishing touches for the Swing Choir concert. HuncJreds of high school students flocked to the University for the various summer camps. TWO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS clean up after a summer storm. Thirteen cars parked east of Franken Hall suffered damage. The Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building and the Wells Learning Resource Center also sustained damage in the July storm. -Frank W Mercer ■A f T. ;: f !. ' ». i ,. i rjSk U ■i hf . fett ' !:,,- 20 SUMMER SCHOOL