On Thursday, May 1, the graduates of the $$Columbus Campus marched into the campus’s fifth commencement ceremony at Xenos Christian Fellowship. Beginning with Theme of the Common Man and working into Pomp and Circumstance, the graduates walked their way up the purple trimmed aisles to their seats.
Campus Director Wesley Smith welcomed and introduced the commencement speaker, Clifford Rosenberger of the Ohio House of Representatives, 91st House District. “Graduation day is such an exciting day. We could also work on getting a ‘selfie’ of all of us together,” he said, as he held up his cell phone to take a photo.
Rep. Rosenberger (pictured above) continued by speaking of the importance of education and preparing for the future. He applauded the graduates for taking this step to continue their education and better themselves and encouraged them to keep going. Representative Rosenberger also reflected on his political career to date which has included not only serving the people of Ohio, but working in the White House; serving as national political events coordinator for Governor Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign; and being Special Assistant to U.S. Secretary of Interior, Dirk Kempthorne. He currently serves on the Ohio House Higher Education Study Committee. Representative Rosenberger is also an Air Force veteran.
[img]Next, student speaker Joan Martinez, a medical assisting graduate, read a poem titled “There is No Rest for Success” by Felix Lugo. Its message encouraged success through education, hard work, friendship and charity. A portion of the poem reads: “Success doesn’t come through the way you think it comes; it comes from the way you think.”
Elizabeth Chadwick, an ISE graduate received the M.A. Smythe award; Adrianne Joiner, a medical office program graduate and honor student received the Mary P. McGurn award; Twan Clark, a systems and user support graduate, the Achievement award; Cortnee Sosby, HIM graduate, the E. M. Coulter award; Mary Burkhead, a business administration – accounting graduate and honor student, the Joseph E. Hurn award; and the Leadership Award went to Jeffrey Strazdins, a military student and business administration – management graduate.
Kelly Privette, a medical assisting graduate and previous leadership award recipient, returned to receive the Alumni Hall of Achievement award. Kelly thanked the Columbus Campus for the award and for “teaching her well.” She thanked the staff and faculty and she spoke to the graduates, students and families about the possibilities that are there for everyone. “I have come a long way…keeping positive is key, if I can do it, you can do it,” said Kelly, reflecting on her college experience. “Success can be achieved by anyone who stays focused on the path to reach it.” Kelly plans to continue her education by working toward a BSN degree in the future. In closing, she cited Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem “Success.”
Graduates are pictured above on stage during the Columbus Campus graduation ceremony.
