May 16
With the temperature in the high 70s and several thousand guestsin attendance at the Fine Arts Terrace, 2,349 Ball State studentsbecame alumni as they graduated May 8.
"It feels so good to finally be here," graduate Nathan Pugh saidat Ball State's 140th graduation ceremony.
Pugh, who obtained his bachelor's degree in geography, said that"one cool thing" that occurred during the day was that ActingPresident Beverley Pitts walked among the students, congratulatingthe graduates.
"I thought that it was very thoughtful that she cared enough tocome around and shake our hands," Pugh said. "And I thought thatshe did a good job addressing the events of this past year duringher speech."
During her first Commencement, Pitts just touched on the tragicevents of the school year, including the deaths of Michael McKinneyand Karl Harford.�
"For all of us, the past year brought both sadness and joy,"Pitts said. "Several traumatic events rocked our campus, and we allstill feel the pain of those difficult times."
After Pitts's remarks, honorary degrees were conferred upon J.Wayne Leonard, Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation, andDonald Neunen, founder of Ball State's University Singers.
Both men made speeches. Leonard's focused on how to live lifewithout regrets, and Neunen gave his advice for success.
Jessica Reiss, who earned her degree in public relations,attended the main ceremony.
"I thought that, overall, the speeches were really good," Reisssaid. "But when [Leonard] spoke, everyone sitting around me waspretty much blown away. Since he talked about death so much, it waskind of hard to take in."
Elizabeth Kimmer, who received her Bachelor of Arts degree inEnglish, was one of five students who were recognized for achievinga 4.0 throughout their college careers.�
"I will never forget handing in my honors thesis," Kimmerlaughed. "It felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders."
Though the constant worry of finals and pressuring deadlines hasnot changed, many other things have, according to Sarah Baker, whoreceived her bachelor's degree in business management.�
"Ball State has become so much more modern," she said. "We havethe Shafer Bell Tower, the Art and Journalism Building and even aStarbucks. Ball State really seems to cater to its students'needs."
Kimmer agreed that Ball State has changed, not only structurallybut also within its student body.�
"Because of everything that has happened this year, it seemslike the students are much more cynical than in past years,especially towards the police," said Kimmer.
Reiss said that, despite the criticism Ball State has receivedwithin the past year, "it was everything I needed." HattiePavlechko, a landscape architecture major, also said that BallState equipped her with the knowledge necessary forsuccess.�
"I think that my classes with discussion were the mostrewarding," she said. "It was also cool developing personalrelationships with my architecture professors, and we were all on afirst-name basis."
Pugh, who wants to work for the Department of Defense aftercompletion of graduate school at Ball State, said that it was therelationships he developed over the past four years that were mostmeaningful.
"Being a student at Ball State reinforced the idea that it isokay to be an individual and do what I love to do most," Pugh said,"And that my true friends will stick by me no matter what."
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