RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- Four hundred eighty students graduated from the University of Rio Grande on Saturday, May 3.
The Commencement Ceremony was held outdoors on the College Green. A large crowd gathered in the comfortable weather to watch family members and friends graduate.
"Your learning experiences have just begun," said keynote speaker Rep. Clyde Evans, who represents the 87th District in the Ohio House of Representatives. A former teacher, counselor and principal, Evans also held four vice-president positions and the provost position before beginning his work in the Ohio General Assembly.
In his remarks to the graduates, Evans stressed the importance of seeking basic truths in life. He talked to the graduates about how they should be compassionate, spread love and help the world around them.
He also talked about how important education is, especially in today's economic climate. In past years, 25 percent of the jobs in America were in manufacturing and 12 percent were in agriculture, he said. Today, only 10 percent of the jobs are in manufacturing and less than two percent are in agriculture, Evans explained.
"Production has skyrocketed while jobs in these areas have been reduced," he said.
At Rio Grande, the students learn job skills, but they also learn to create new ideas that are needed in the workplace, Evans said. These new ideas and creative solutions are needed for the economic growth of the region, he added.
Evans also urged the students to keep learning throughout their lives and to always strive to reach new goals. He challenged them to be able to say when they are his age, "I am much more excited about my dreams than I am about my memories."
Evans was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree during the ceremony. He thanked his parents and his wife and family for all of the support he has received over the years, and said he was very proud to receive this honor from Rio Grande. He added that he has traveled around the world and met many different people, but the people at Rio Grande "are some of the finest people I have ever known."
Evans also received special letters of commendation from U.S. Sen. George Voinovich and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. Brandon Kern, who works with Sen. Voinovich, presented one of the letters and described Evans as someone who is passionate and dedicated to public service.
Greg Hargett, a Rio Grande alumnus who works with Gov. Strickland, presented the other letter and also discussed his admiration for Evans.
Dr. Greg Sojka, interim president of the University of Rio Grande, explained that during the day, 97 students received master's degrees, 160 received bachelor's degrees and 231 received associate's degrees. While 480 students received degrees, a total of 488 degrees were awarded because some students earned more than one degree. Several of the graduates were family members of Rio Grande faculty and staff, Sojka said, adding that this shows the family atmosphere at the institution.
The Rev. David Young, who led the invocation and benediction during the ceremony, said during his remarks that while it was a very happy occasion, it was also an appropriate time to remember the life and work of Assistant Professor Dr. Gerald Sparkman, who died at the end of the semester. A moment of silence was held in honor of Sparkman.
The Grande Chorale vocal music group and the Rio Grande Symphonic Band also performed during the ceremony, and W. Todd Johnson, president of the Rio Grande Alumni Association, said that the 480 new alumni will push the number of registered alumni past 8,300.
Johnson said he hopes the graduates will recall later in life how Rio Grande helped them, and then they will turn around and help the institution.
"Congratulations for what you have achieved and welcome to the ranks of Rio Grande alumni," Johnson said.
7-day Archive
