• Tuesday-What'sUP May 5 - 04:19 pm

I was on hand for the Michigan Technological University Graduation Ceremonies this past Saturday and snapped a few photos to share. If you were there, maybe you can find yourself or your graduate in the crowd! The folks at the SDC sure did a nice job making the Ice Arena floor festive looking for the graduates and families.

The Commencement speaker was Lt. Col. Otha E. Thornton, who earned his Masters Degree while stationed at Michigan Tech, with the ROTC as a recruiter. He is presently the presidential communications officer and director of human resources at the White House Communications Agency, where he provides communications logistics for presidential events. He will be leaving his post in Washington shortly, being deployed to Afghanistan as a personnel officer. Otha had some good advice for the nearly 900 graduates, when he told them that the education they have just completed does have a purpose, "First to build character, second to serve humanity, and third, to earn a living--in that order." He emphasized volunteering to help in their communities.... sound, practical advice that will make them not only successful, but productive as well.

In the last photo, the beautiful young lady receiving her diploma, is my niece. Pardon me while I brag just a little... Heather graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, along with a minor in Bioprocess Engineering. Saturday was a proud day for our family, along with the rest of the graduates and their families. Congratulations to everyone!

Mary you deserve to brag a little. That is quite a task in a school as good as MTU in Chemical Engineering. I too have something to celebrate. My son graduates from Marquette University in Milwaukee next weekend. His degree in Political Science being the stepping stone to law school. Now if my wallet could just graduate from the open to closed mode, but alas he'll need some money. Some from us even though he is taking on the lions share with scholarships, money saved from working all through college and student loans. God Speed to all graduates this year, you face a tough world one an all.

What an awesome sight eh.....Congrats to your niece and all the hard working students.....now it is time to start that new life out there....go get'm graduates !!!

Now let me brag a little......My daughter is the one who orders all the robes, tassles, braids etc that everyone wears. Let me tell you that is no small task getting everything together....Beckie orders them, passes them out and collects them to send back to provider. She does an awesome job.....(proud mother speaking)

God bless all you graduates and God bless all of you out there..........xoxo

Congrats to Mary's Heather, Steve's son and all who have made it! Such sacrifices all around! To me the first thing that caught my eye was that marvelous US flag! Thank God we still can display our pride before every one!

My son graduated from Mich Tech with a Chemical Engineering degree four years ago. I tried to get him to explain what Chemical Engineering was all about. He pretty much lost me right after he cleared his throat to speak. My congratulations to you niece.

My younger son graduated from West. Mich. Univ. weekend before last....BS in Computer Info. Syst./minor in Business. :) WAY TO GO DREW !!!

I remember walking that walk a few years ago getting my degrees. I can say that it is an experience that I will never forget, and one that I can't accurately describe. It's a feeling of relief, joy, excitement, and "OMG, I have to find a job...."

I always thought it might make things more interesting if they left the ice in the arena and made the graduates skate to get their diplomas ;-)

My son graduated from Tech with a chem eng degree and when he applied for doctoral programs he had many offers from good schools from Mass to California. I had never heard of universities flying a candidate for grad school interviews. Tech, it turns out, has an excellent reputation. He now has a PhD and is a senior scientist for Dow. We well remember the SDC that graduation day. It was a full house!!
I have a grandson, age 14, who dreams of going to Tech.

Capt. Paul, should be a requirement of all 3 U.P. colleges that the kids skate for their diplomas! lol ;-)

I am also a proud mother. My oldest graduated from MTU with her bachelor's in 2005 and with her master's in 2007. My youngest daughter just graduated on Saturday with her bachelor's degree also from MTU. Mary, I did see the back of her in your picture.

One GIANT step taken in the life ahead of them. At least they all now have the key to get around. Let's pray it is used to their advantage and to the United States as well.

God bless and congratulatins one and all!