For the first time since 1986, someone other than Ball State University's president gave the spring Commencement address. More than 15,000 people listened as a former presidential advisor spoke to 2,500 graduates on May 7.
David Gergen, who received an honorary doctor of laws degree that day, is currently an at-large editor for U.S. News & World Report and a Harvard professor. He served as a presidential advisor for Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
His commencement address encouraged graduates to find guideposts that they could follow for the rest of their lives.
Jason Houser, a graduate with a master's degree from the College of Communication, Information and Media, said he enjoyed the speech because it connected many different interests that people might have.
"I thought it was very interesting how he pulled different genres -- the military, religion, just different walks of life -- to encourage you to find your guiding principles," Houser said. "I liked the way he took a realistic approach to include a bunch of people from different mindsets."
Among Gergen's advice for others was the advice his mother gave him when he was a child: "Work hard, tell the truth and be on time for dinner."
Houser was impressed not only with Gergen's speech but also with the entire ceremony.
"What surprised me, what brought the tears, was the regality of it," he said. "I'd never looked at the Fine Arts Terrace that way before."
Sharon Woodruff, commencement coordinator, agreed that the pomp surrounding the Spring Semester is what draws students and their loved ones to attend.
"The December and July ceremonies are handled with as much detail, and one is just as grand as the other," Woodruff said, but "the one on the Arts Terrace just has so much tradition, and the surroundings make it so full of pomp."
For others, the pomp surrounding the ceremony was secondary to the thought of leaving Ball State.
"I'll miss the people most. I've met so many different people at Ball State from different backgrounds," said Briner Ellis, a graduate from the College of Fine Arts. "Being able to meet new people constantly has been awesome about the university. It's 18,000 students, which is pretty big, but I can't go anywhere without seeing someone I know, which is great."
Graduate of the College of Applied Science and Technology Josh Clauser plans to stay in Muncie to get his master's degree.
Clauser's parents said they were proud of their son. As his mother clapped, she said, "We're so excited, excited! He's a great man, and we couldn't be prouder."
"He's worked so hard. It's very exciting to see him decide to pursue his master's," Clauser's father said.
President Jo Ann Gora, who was recognized in Gergen's speech for being Indiana's first female university president, encouraged the graduates to live life so that "what you will be sparks a passion in you to live each aspect of your life to the fullest. You will find life more enjoyable if you challenge yourself."
David T. Owsley, son of Lucy Ball Owsley and grandson of Frank C. Ball, received an honorary doctor of humanities degree at the Commencement ceremony.
Owsley is a major contributor to the art world, particularly to Ball State's Museum of Art. His donations have brought Ball State a wide array of ethnographic art from many different cultures across the world.
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