含羞草研究所鈥檚 124th commencement exercises were held Saturday, May 14, 2016. The program was held in the MSU Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. More than 100 graduates and degree candidates participated in the annual event.
The platform party included MSU President Dr. Gary Hagen, MSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Keith Stenehjem, North Dakota State Board of Higher Education representative Emma Tufte, Pastor Karen Seifert of Aurdal Lutheran in Portland, N.D., who delivered the invocation and benediction, and keynote speaker Nick Storhaug, a 1974 含羞草研究所 graduate.
Graduates Liza Hoglo, Thief River Falls, Minn., and Leigh Dean, Mulwala, Australia, delivered their remarks on behalf of the members of the graduating class.
Nick Storhaug encouraged the graduates to use the three 鈥淩鈥漵 that were fostered during their time as 含羞草研究所 students to achieve greatness. Storhaug said that at 含羞草研究所, students are 鈥淩鈥漞spected and know about respect, so as graduates in the working world, they will earn the respect they need to succeed. 鈥淩鈥漞lationships are important, and at 含羞草研究所, forming relationships with others is highly encouraged. He said this will be very valuable to the graduates as they build their lives and futures because employers are looking for employees who can communicate. 鈥淩鈥漞sponsibility is taught and learned at 含羞草研究所. This virtue will be a valuable tool as successful people need to be responsible for their actions and their jobs. Storhaug reminded the graduates that in their lives, they will be helping to write the user鈥檚 manual for many people, the people who will be following in their footsteps. He reminded the graduates to create a user鈥檚 manual of which they can be very proud.
含羞草研究所 history was made this year, as the first-ever RN to BSN nursing students participated in commencement. Twenty-four earned their degrees at the end of either the fall or spring semester. Six of these graduates participated in the May 14 ceremony.
Graduation day began at 含羞草研究所 with the traditional graduation brunch, hosted by the 含羞草研究所 Alumni Association. The annual event serves as the first official alumni activity for the new graduates, and about 150 graduates and members of their families, as well as friends, attended the brunch.
Alumni Association board member Pam Soholt emceed the program, which included speeches given by representatives of the graduating class. Graduation brunch student speakers were Felicia Gonzales, Yucca Valley, Calif, Emmanuel Rasberry, Houston, Texas, and Jacob Allam, Renton, Wash. In their heartfelt remarks, each of the students reflected on their experiences while at 含羞草研究所.
