(soft music) (crowd cheering) (band music) (band playing "Pomp and Circumstance") (crowd cheering) (crowd cheering) - Good afternoon.

I'm Ann Austin.

I serve as the Interim Dean of the College of Education.

And we welcome all of you to the Spring 2022 Baccalaureate Commencement Ceremony for the College of Education.

(crowd cheering) This is a very special event.

And to be able to be here in person makes it especially meaningful after the challenging times that we've all experienced.

So we very much welcome our graduates, their families and friends.

Please join me in singing "America the Beautiful" led by Janine Graham, a doctoral student in the College of Music accompanied by the Michigan State University symphony band, composed by Samuel A.

Ward.

After singing, please remain standing for a moment of silence.

Would everyone rise, please?

(band playing "America the Beautiful") ♪ O beautiful for spacious skies ♪ ♪ For amber waves of grain ♪ ♪ For purple mountain majesties ♪ ♪ Above the fruited plain ♪ ♪ America!

America ♪ ♪ God shed his grace on thee ♪ ♪ And crown thy good with brotherhood ♪ ♪ From sea to shining sea ♪ (crowd cheering) Thank you so much, Ms. Graham.

Now let us pause for a moment of silent and personal reflection to give thanks and show our appreciation to all who are assembled here and for what we've achieved.

Thank you, and please be seated.

Today marks an important milestone in your education, and we share your pride as we celebrate your achievement.

Next year, many of you will begin your year long teaching internship.

Others have elected to enter graduate school, and some of you will embark on your first career experience.

Never have the feels of education and kinesiology been more exciting and challenging.

Your education has prepared you to meet these challenges and to view them as opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.

As I noted, the past several years have brought challenges that nobody could have foreseen.

We've learned to be adaptable in ever-changing situations.

We've all learned new technologies and how to use them and ways to learn from them.

We've learned how to care for one another.

And especially importantly, we've learned that Spartans are very resilient and that's evident in the fact that we're all gathered here together today to celebrate this an incredible milestone you have all achieved.

This is a very special day indeed.

We're confident that as you move to the next stages of your lives, you will hold to what you've learned and bring honor to yourselves and to Michigan State University.

This weekend and next, 16 MSU colleges are honoring nearly 10,000 students who are graduating this spring or summer.

And College of Education students comprise a significant part of the student body at MSU.

We know though that each of you individually is important to this institution in ways that transcend the size of the graduating class.

And so we honor and celebrate each of you individually for your commitment, your determination, and your accomplishment and all that we know that you will be accomplishing.

Now Rema Vassar member of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, will greet our graduates and guests.

Trustee Vassar.

- Thank you.

(crowd clapping) Thank you, Dean Austin.

Happy Mother's Day!

Woo hoo!

Yes.

Bonus moms, grandmas.

Great, great grandmas.

Thank you so much for sharing your babies with us today.

On behalf of the Michigan State Board of Trustees, I welcome all graduates, families and friends who are here with us today.

Under the Michigan constitution, the Board of Trustees is the governing body of the university, by whose authority, these degrees are awarded.

Today's ceremony represents the culmination of discipline, intellectual work and creative imagination.

Certainly this is no small accomplishment given all that we've gone through these last couple of years.

For many of you and your families here, the sacrifices have been long and great.

The degree you have earned acknowledges your success and honors those who have encouraged you and supported you.

Our wish is that you will always lead generously.

Use your intelligence and your knowledge to improve the quality of life for our communities, to advance the common good and to renew hope in the human spirit.

Our faculty, our administrators, and the MSU trustees are all so very proud of you.

Please accept our warmest congratulations and best wishes.

We're counting on you.

Go green!

- [Crowd] Go green!

(crowd clapping) - Thanks very much, Trustee Vassar.

We appreciate your being here with us today.

This year, we've selected two students to offer remarks on behalf of the class of 2022.

And I'd first like to introduce Elaine Nevins, who's a kinesiology student from Rodney, Michigan.

After graduation, she will be doing her athletic training internship along with research at Michigan State followed by graduate school.

Elaine.

(crowd cheering) - Thank you, Dean Austin.

It is an honor to be standing here in front of all of you, giving the commencement speech.

I want to first thank the faculty, parents, family, friends.

And most importantly, I want to thank the students.

I wanna thank us.

Our journey through college is unique to each and every one of us.

We, as students, have experienced many trials and tribulations through our journey we call college.

College is not easy by a long shot.

It's learning to juggle the demand's of life on top of juggling school.

It's learning that it's okay to fail and that we can't all be perfect 24/7.

Life isn't always about sticking to a plan that we have set for ourselves, but learning to be flexible.

When I first applied to college, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I was going for pre-med and I was going to become a dermatologist, but that could not be farthest from my reality.

I switched my major from natural science to advertising to psychology and finally to kinesiology, where I found my passion.

There are a lot of things that I can see myself doing after graduation, such as becoming a professor, a physical therapist, an athletic trainer, a sports psychologist, but at this very moment, I don't know what I'm gonna do exactly, but I have come to realize that that's okay.

There are some of us that know exactly what they're going to do after graduation.

And that's amazing.

And for those of us who don't know what they're going to do after graduation, that's amazing, too.

We are all different.

And we are all on different paths that are unique to who we are and who we are becoming.

That's the beauty behind it all.

Life isn't a sprint.

It's a brisk walk.

We may stumble.

We may fall.

But one thing that we can all make sure we do is pick ourselves back up and keep on walking, keep on moving and keep on finding who we are and what we will do with our future.

It's okay for us not to have a plan set for ourselves right after graduation.

It's okay to take time to figure out what we want, to test the waters.

Life isn't about knowing everything.

It's about loving ourselves and being okay with our choices and knowing that no matter what choice we do make or don't make, we are still enough.

Every single one of us has earned the seat that we are in right now.

We have worked so hard.

We have made it to the end of our undergrad journey.

We have faced so many things and we have conquered so much more.

We have become our strongest selves and we will continue to become even stronger.

Now it's time to celebrate who we are and everything that we have achieved.

We are the class of 2022.

We are the future.

We are smart.

We are brave.

We are Spartans.

Let's take on the world and accomplish our dreams one day at a time.

Go Green!

- [Crowd] Go Green!

(crowd cheering) - Elaine, thanks so much.

We're very glad you selected education as you explore different fields and very excited to see as your career does go forward, the choices that you make.

Thanks so much.

Our second speaker today is Makayla Elena Perez, an education major from Southgate, Michigan, and McAllen, Texas.

Next year, McKayla will be doing her student teaching, her internship, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and she'll also be continuing her education in a graduate program at Western Michigan University.

Makayla.

(crowd cheering) - Dean Austin, faculty, colleagues, esteemed guests, family, and friends.

It is with great honor that I, Mak Perez, address you today.

I am beyond fortunate to be standing with you all as we close this chapter of our lives and inevitably open the new and exciting ones as Michigan State University graduates.

I would first like to note how incredibly special this moment is for me, as it is for all of you.

When I started Michigan State, I was not sure I would be able to complete my dream of becoming a graduate of this renowned university.

To address you all this tremendous milestone in our lives is surreal and would've absolutely seemed untouchable at some different times in my life.

For this reason, I think is important to share why this is so.

My demographics, identity, lived experiences and other so-called risk factors are something that the world may have flagged me for as having a limitation, as something that would hold me back, as something that should make it so that I am not standing here with you all today en route to making a difference in what lies ahead.

I came to Michigan State carrying some things with me that made it feel very hard to succeed at times.

I am a first generation college student.

So I often had to navigate all the chaos of not only going to college in general, but a college of this caliber.

My initial problem started with not even knowing how to complete my federal application for student aid.

I recognize that it was imperative that I accessed need-based aid, but had no clue how to even begin.

My parents were separated and lived thousands of miles apart.

So I did not often get to have those weekends where I could go home and recharge.

I'm a part of the mere 5.7% of Latinx students at MSU.

And I felt very isolated and underrepresented amongst my peers.

I struggled with major depressive disorder and anxiety that would make it hard for me to feel excited about everyday life.

This whirlwind of emotions left me looking to drop out of MSU after my first semester.

I was nearing academic probation, athletic ineligibility, and I felt like I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I bring up these things about myself because I know that in the sea of faces I see today, I am not alone.

Every one of us here has had setbacks and struggles on our path to this day in history.

We have dealt with loss, tragedy, a chaotic world, and even those deep pains and voices of doubt within ourselves.

However, we start to realize that we are not the only ones.

We open up and make connections with other people who thought they had it all figured out to those who were also stuck out there in an unforgiving sea, waving their SOS flag like I was.

Realizing this unity was my first step in turning around with sometimes felt like some of the most unachievable tasks.

From my moments of fear and isolation, I started to find community and strength in confiding in my fellow Spartan, whether that be a mentor, a teammate, a professor, an academic coordinator, or even a kind staff member who gave a smile to me in passing, not knowing it would be significant in changing my day for the better.

The list could go on and on.

Not only can things improve, but we can thrive when we have this faith and strength in community.

I want to remind you all of this, not to belittle the very real implications of hardship on a reality, but rather because you harness the potential in yourself to make big changes in the world, by sometimes starting with changing the world for one person at a time.

I urge you to start with making the biggest and hardest change to start believing in yourself.

If you already do, then keep on believing.

In the words of my head track and field coach Lisa Fresno, be your own best advocate.

My community of Spartans have helped me to realize that what we have here is special because we are surrounded by people who want to believe in each other.

The outside world is not always so kind.

However, I am encouraged to know that in a world of doubt, I am graduating with believers.

Believers in progress, believers in hard work, believers in equity, believers that they could defy the limitations and expectations that society had placed on them.

Believers in those who've struggled in ways familiar and believers in those who've lived through things that they could never fathom.

Believers in a mindset that balances the confidence to know that no one in this world is better than them and the humbleness that they are not better than anyone else.

Without Michigan State first believing in all of us, we may not have accomplished the profound tasks needed to get us here today.

For myself, I would have forever regretted not being brave enough to take the leap of faith that I ultimately needed to stay here.

I applaud you for also taking that step and for continuing to put one foot in front of the other on the days where it felt like it would be impossible.

Never be afraid to share the strength, kindness, and perseverance that you've learned here at Michigan State.

And of course never forget that you are not alone and there will always be a Spartan in the world for you to lean on.

I know they would be more than thrilled to see you again.

Go Green, go White, go State.

Thank you.

(crowd cheering) - Thank you, Makayla.

We're very proud of your accomplishments also, and look forward to the next steps that you take.

The MSU symphony band will now present a fantasy on MSU songs composed by Jane Curnow and conducted by Henry Dorn.

(symphony music) (crowd cheering) That was terrific.

Thank you, Mr. Dorn and members of the symphony band.

Thanks so much.

Trustee Vassar will now recognize those who have received the Board of Trustees award.

Trustee Vassar.

- We wish to honor graduates who not only completed their academic program successfully, but who have the distinction of having maintained the highest grade point averages in the class, thereby meriting the Board of Trustees Award.

To be eligible for this prestigious award, at least three fourths of the credits for the degree must be earned in residence at Michigan State University.

Will the students who are present, please stand and remain standing as your names are called.

I humbly request that you hold your applause until all are introduced alphabetically.

These students are Alexis Abernathy, Ellen Brooks, Molly Donovan, Morgan Franks.

Oh, wow.

Anna Havener.

Oh, okay.

Is this the right list?

Taylor Pennell.

Erica Pryor.

They're all behind me, thank you!

I was like, where are these people?

(crowd laughing) Oh, the panic.

(Trustee Vassar laughing) Thank you front row.

And y'all just had me out here like this.

Okay.

You saw the panic, but you okay.

All right, you know, I'm a mom, too?

You could gimme a little grace today.

Father.

Okay, did I already say Erica Pryor?

I did, Erica.

Are you already standing?

Okay.

Good.

Abigail Seal.

Anna Sharky.

Avery Stevons.

Each of you should be proud of the outstanding academic record that honors you and your university.

On behalf of your classmates, the faculty, the officers and trustees of the university, I extend sincere congratulations and best wishes.

Please join me in a round of applause for the Class of 2022 Board of Trustees award recipients.

Behind me.

(crowd cheering) - I guess we were playing a little trick on Trustee Vassar.

Thank you very much.

You may all sit now.

It's hard sometimes to know up here when you should stand and when you should sit.

We also wish to pay tribute to the students who have earned the highest grade point averages in the College of Education, undergraduate majors of Education, Kinesiology, and Special Education.

Will the students who are present please stand and remain standing as your names are called.

We have four students representing the education major, all with perfect 4.0s.

Morgan Franks, Afton Glynn, (crowd cheering) Erica Pryor, Abigail Seal.

(crowd cheering) Congratulations.

In the Kinesiology major, we have eight students graduating with a GPA of 4.0, Alexis Abernathy, Ellen Brooks, Molly Donovan, Anna Havener, Taylor Pennell, Anna Sharky, Avery Stevens and Sydney Williams.

(crowd cheering) Each of these students, each of you should be proud of the outstanding academic record that honors you, your family, the College of Education and the university, and on behalf of your classmates, as well as faculty, advisors and administrators in the College of Education, I extend sincere congratulations and best wishes.

And I guess everyone has found their seat, but we'll clap for them again.

(crowd cheering) As you know, excelling in college is not just about grades.

Learning and personal development take many forms.

So there are many other graduates that we want to recognize today also.

We also wish to recognize members of Phi Epsilon Kappa, an academic fraternity for Kinesiology students who are wearing black and gold honor cords and members of Kappa Delta Pi, the education honorary who are wearing purple and green honor cords.

Degree candidates in the Urban Educators Cohort Program, UECP, and the global educator cohort program, GECP, are wearing light blue honor cords.

Would all of you please stand and let us recognize you.

(crowd cheering) Thank you so much.

You may be seated In recognition of Michigan State University's ongoing commitment to education abroad, I ask all graduates who participated in an education abroad program during their years at MSU to please stand so may we may recognize you also.

(crowd cheering) Thank you very, very much.

Students who fulfill requirements of the honors college by completing enriched programs of study are wearing white stoles with the HC, honors college, designation.

Will all students graduating as members of the honors college please stand and accept our congratulations.

(crowd cheering) Thank you so much.

In recognition of the university's ongoing commitment to undergraduate research will all students who participated in research while at MSU, please rise so we can recognize you.

(crowd cheering) And please remain standing if you also presented your work at the UURAF conference, and several people have, excellent.

(crowd cheering) We congratulate you in participating in that special university event that recognizes undergraduate research.

Will all students who were active in a student organization during their time at MSU also please rise so we can recognize you and all your contributions.

(crowd cheering) Thank you very much.

Students who attain grade point averages between 3.95 and 4.0 are awarded University High Honor.

University honor is awarded to students who have earned grade point averages between 3.82 and 3.94.

Both of these excellent honors are designated by gold honor cords.

Will all students graduating with high honor or honor also please stand and accept our congratulations.

(crowd cheering) Thank you very much.

And finally, and quite importantly, we wanna also mention the importance of service.

Let's not ever forget that helping others is very much part of the Spartan tradition.

So would everyone who has volunteered their time in an effort to help others during their years at MSU, years that have been especially challenging due to the pandemic, please stand, so we can also honor you, everyone who has contributed by helping others.

(crowd cheering) We are very, very proud of your service, your kindness and compassion to others, and we hope it will continue throughout the rest of your lives and your careers.

It's all part of, of course, our Spartan tradition of really reaching out and caring for others.

You can see, I think all of us can see, we have such an outstanding class that has contributed in so many ways.

And we congratulate every person who has risen, I suspect it's all of our graduating colleagues here, who have risen for one of these questions or another.

Let's join together in applauding this class that has made so many contributions.

(crowd cheering) So at this time we will honor the baccalaureate degree recipients from the College of Education as they are presented by their department chairpersons and we'll begin with the candidates from the Department of Teacher Education, who will be presented by Dr. Dorinda Carter Andrews, Chairperson of the Department of Teacher Education.

- Will the candidates from the Department of Teacher Education at both the elementary and secondary education levels, including students in the Urban Educators Cohort Program and Global Educators Cohort Program please rise.

(crowd cheering) Dean Austin, these candidates have completed all department and college requirements and on behalf of the faculty, I present them to you for the awarding of their degrees.

Candidates, please remain standing.

- [Dean Austin] Thank you.

Chairperson Carter Andrews.

The candidates from the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education will be presented by Dr. Cary Roseth, Chairperson of the department.

- Will the candidates from the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, with majors in special education, please rise.

(crowd cheering) Dean Austin, these amazing candidates have completed all department and college requirements and on behalf of the faculty, I present them to you for the awarding of their degrees.

Candidates, please remain standing.

- [Dean Austin] Thank you, Dr. Roseth.

The candidates from the Department of Kinesiology will be presented by Dr. Karin Pfeiffer, Chairperson of the department.

- Will the candidates from the Department of Kinesiology with majors in Kinesiology, please rise.

(crowd cheering) Let's go!

Dean Austin, these candidates have completed all department and college requirements and on behalf of the faculty, I present them to you for the awarding of their degrees.

Candidates, please remain standing.

- Thank you, Dr. Pfeiffer.

On behalf of the president who has delegated to him, the authority of the State of Michigan, vested in the Board of Trustees, I confer upon all of you, the degrees for which you have been recommended with all the rights and distinctions to which they entitle you.

(crowd cheering) According to custom, you may now move your tassels from the right side of your caps to the left side, signaling that you have earned the degree.

(crowd cheering) Congratulations, MSU alumni.

(crowd cheering) This act represents a great achievement.

It marks the beginning of a lifetime of dedicated service.

It's an achievement worthy of celebration and today we applaud the fact that more than 400 men and women have completed the academic program of their choice in our College of Education.

Please be seated.

(crowd cheering) We now welcome Mr. Mark Bashore and Mr. Jamie Paisley to the microphone to announce the names of the graduates as they receive their diplomas.

I ask that the new graduates be escorted to the platform to receive a token diploma.

Graduates should return to their seats after receiving their diplomas and we ask the audience to be considerate in celebrating as we read all the graduate's names.

We wanna be sure that each graduate's name can be clearly heard, so we encourage you to cheer loudly, but briefly, for a friend or a family member, so that we can also acknowledge others.

Each graduating senior is a member of the Spartan family, and we hope we'll show the same respect for the last graduate as we do for the first.

At this time, I'd also like to introduce Ms. Brooke Larm, who is the President of the College Alumni Board and she will greet you after you receive your diploma and present you with a small gift to commemorate this occasion.

Will the students on the platform please come forward now to begin the procession of graduates.

And again, I ask that we please hold our applause until all of the graduates have been recognized.

- Abigail Elizabeth Seal, with high honors.

(crowd cheering) Erica Pryor with high honors.

(crowd cheering) Afton Clara Glynn with high honors.

(crowd cheering) Morgan Franks with high honors.

(crowd cheering) Makayla Elena Perez.

(crowd cheering) Elaine Marie Edward Anthony Nevins with honors.

Avery Ann Stevons with high honors.

Anna Jean Sharky with high honors.

Taylor Nicole Pennell with high honors.

Anna Havener with high honors.

Molly Donovan with high honors.

Ellen Victoria Brooks with high honors.

Alexis Noel Abernathy with high honors.

Graduating from the School of Kinesiology, Elizabeth McConkey.

Tory Leigh Ozment.

Sean Wolfert.

Keith Larue.

Kennedy Cordray.

Emily Stayhauer.

Bailey Grace Schulberg.

Jenna Huffnagle.

Lauren Bly with honors.

Madison Noel Peddler.

Lauren Decarteret.

Saquaya Baker.

Rami Ahmed Salami.

Jacob Mazer.

Jonathan Conley.

Jacob Genord.

Brody Chase Norman.

Jordan Lenay Kriegel.

Teagan Hogan.

Kaylee Ceiling.

Justin Buck.

Shamic Badasharia.

Kevin Amari Holloway.

Taylor Greshak with high honors.

Diane Olivia Zashin with high honors Paige Grass with honors.

Tara Ann Fedewa.

Anita Atisha.

Jenna Gottschalk.

Kendall Curry.

Madeline Grace Nowiki.

Nicole Angela Hamlin.

Maya Frigoli.

Jason Aceoli.

Mitchell Reinhard.

Callum James Sullivan.

Alexis Nickoloff with honors.

Sarah Parker Dillingham.

Alison Landry.

Jack Watkins.

Ashley Tanevsky.

Julia Castrucci.

Madison Riley Killian.

Adam Paul Goodser.

Joseph Houseworth.

Brooke Lindsay Eddington with high honors.

Michaela Kurchoff with honors.

Susan Carmen with honors.

Maria Tokanaga.

Cassidy Lynn Gobel.

Sarah Elizabeth Noel.

Ashley Nicole Bullen.

Sydney Elise Oliver.

Jamie Joy Cochran.

Ava Kaplinsky.

Grace Wright.

Jordan Barna.

Samantha Jo Hill.

Keegan Rumler.

Evan Cadmus.

Sarah Jonelle Leahy.

Emily Rose.

Jacqueline Novelle Hauser with honors.

Seth Filler with honors.

Marissa Kulp with high honors.

Abby Roberts.

Ashley Brianne Spitsbarth.

Cameron Lysness.

Samantha Joyce Williams.

Shelby van Mayley.

Kristin Mary Isherwood.

Amanda Lopez with honors.

John Richard Valesky with honors.

Caroline McKayla Wallace.

Rachel Elizabeth Kramer Brigid Sullivan.

Dixie Harrington.

Hannah Tomkins.

Brooklyn Osborne.

Madeline Tanner with honors.

Lila Drake Flynn.

Colin Nestor.

Young Tang Shu.

Benjamin Scott Zoleski.

Santina Mary Zetau.

Taylor Nicole Cortes.

May Howenstein with high honors.

Megan Pascalski.

Natalie Dunne.

Emily Rudberg.

Kevin Price.

Jenna Prader.

Ryan Holstrom.

Luke Spalding.

Megan Elizabeth Moroka.

Cheyenne Whitfield.

Irvin Durivou.

Karina Eva Adduce.

Michael Homer.

Andrew Weiss.

Ari Logan Metler.

Benjamin Ransom.

Madison Baker.

Dylan Rankie.

Eric Oakins.

Devin Lee Topp with high honors.

Christopher Shoemate with honors.

Stephen Mark Palmisano.

Mary Campbell Webbe.

Ryan Son.

Hayden Stauffer with honors.

Aja Blue Traylor.

Diamond Alexis Powell.

Peyton L. Zogby with honors.

Hailey Collin.

Shania Greene.

Emma Molitor.

Carly Ann Bolanes.

Sarah Cassidy with high honors.

Gigi Abdi Dunbobba.

Aaron Maltby.

Melanie Ann Helder with high honors.

Rebecca Poljan.

Andrea Blansey.

Hayley Dumzolski.

Emma Rose Reddy.

Lauren Elizabeth Owen.

Laurel DeMay.

Robert Marco Papavski.

Logan Lefki.

Nina Mackenzie Shmura.

Brooke Sugarman with honors.

Ryan Thomas Hepner.

Nicholas Gerard Rosania the Fifth.

Ryan Andrew Rosas with honors.

Jacob Herod.

Matthew Lanzone.

Andrew John Puliyat.

Paul Waltross.

Brian James Curtin.

Nolan Sciotti.

Hunter Christian Campbell.

Abigail Christine Tepper.

Riley Elise Keller.

Taylor Gabrielle Nichols.

Gabrielle Starnes.

Nicholas Leno Fogle with honors.

McKenna Jakucenis.

Miranda McCloskey.

Ashland Michelle Griffith.

I'm gonna pick up the pace a little bit.

I'm gonna pick up the pace.

Therin Hickman.

Zayad Nufnu.

Aliza Sticksner.

Jazzlyn Wright.

Alexis Shannon Pickerel.

Ava.

Ava Jared.

Samantha Gotberg.

Megan Mettendorf with honors.

Elizabeth Deanne Kurtz with high honors.

Madeline Kate Spring.

Brianne Marie Stahl with guest.

Cassidy Schott with honors.

Gabriela Grimaldi.

Nicole Nugent with honors.

Jane Baker.

McKenna Hurley.

Leah Nicole Salter with high honors.

Colton Addison.

Fiona Rose Balfman.

Macy Manchester.

Jessica Barovsky.

Paige Lillian Whitelaw.

Jillian Shefferly.

Jennifer Benson.

Katherine Haas.

Elena Sarah Famovski.

Aliana Madrigal.

Emily Gore.

Alison Kate Bloomquist.

Madeline Keck.

Jack Wilson with honors.

Elma Ramich.

Jack Victor Scotius.

Terry O'Connor.

Zachary Slade Purita Shah.

Gabrielle Rose Pierce.

Mariah Lynn Foote.

Natalie Stevenson.

Jessica Drennan with high honors.

Kyle Hopp.

Lauren Joneson.

Heidi Grogman with honors.

Lindsay McBride.

Mitchell Johnson with honors.

Caroline Grambala.

Natalie Tischkowitz.

Lauren Rose Allen.

Madison Shaffer.

Morgan Spathelf.

Emma Michelle Jeffrey.

McKenna Ives.

Sabrina Daniels.

Richard Yang.

Jeffrey Alexander Phillips with honors.

Mitchell Dragon Lee.

Ethan Kolschefsky.

Araz Zafar.

Needy Pravichandra Patel.

Lindsay Marie Garrett with honors.

John Roland High the Third.

Courtney Renee Dent.

Mecca Kadeja Muhammad.

Destiny Thomas.

Jordan Danielle Wyrick.

Kiana Studemeyer.

Robert Hurst.

Sean Pitman, Jr. (person jumping) (crowd cheering) - Yeah!

- Alfonso Washington.

Maya Williams.

Leasia Simmons.

Jasmine Tran.

Paige Kennedy Lowry.

Isabella Callow with honors.

Gabrielle Wilking with honors.

Jacob Shoots.

Benjamin Call.

Lucas Perry.

- Thank you.

- Avril Braswell, Jr. Macy Bitner with honors.

Shelby Lee Miller.

Megan Burry.

Savannah Frick.

Stephanie Kozola.

Cameron Margaret Sage.

Molly Anne Day with honors.

Kayla Alexis Leaf.

Elizabeth Compass.

Emily Mui.

Jennifer Marie Hood.

Rachel Nicole Watson.

Janhvi Patel.

Gabrielle Monique Cleveland.

Kelly Heron.

Kendall Goyette.

Sarah Zofchak.

Madeline Riley.

Parker Selby with honors.

Jacob McEntee Laflamme.

Sarah Duphon.

Madison Esposito.

Langston Smith.

Ashley Parks.

Alexis Mitchell.

Darian Parker.

Lazari Shones Mitchell.

Kayla Arthur.

Imari Lussette Carter.

Graduating from the major in Education.

Mariana May Espinoza.

Kate Elizabeth Petch.

Hailey Shanedorf with honors.

Megan Lynn Toofer.

Andrew Maza.

Jacob Ryan Sabo.

Megan Lynn Gall with honors.

Kennedy Ann Greenwood.

Lauren Schreiber with honors.

Hannah Faith Nicks.

Brianna Marie Bovie.

Mikel Page Mishoa.

Sydney Elizabeth Knightsold with honors.

Megan Williams with honors.

Riley Alexis Filibond.

Ariel Schul with honors.

Abby K. Chefka with honors.

Shang Anwar.

Yu Zhang.

Madeline Eve Braley with honors.

Lauren Howe Brogen.

Sarah Paris.

Anna Threety with honors.

Rachel Diane Klein.

Aaron Coning.

Anna Marie Thompson with honors.

Morgan Blair.

Ashley Nicole Bowma with honors.

McKayla Jane Mackey with honors.

Aria Stark.

Caroline Patel with high honors.

Evanna Penelope Caprada.

Emily Baylo.

Autumn Steinman with honors.

Sure.

Katelyn Gruden Woods with high honors.

Amanda Walker with high honors.

Randa Lee.

Garrett Lee Decracker.

Max Anderson Lauren Camp.

Leah Shipp.

Yutong Zhu.

Holly Cleaver.

Josie Umfleet.

Abigail Susan Coleman with honors.

Lauren Erlich with honors.

Taylor Lynn Lymer.

Lexi Kosee with honors.

Hannah Zigner.

Taylor Ann Masasic.

Chloe Current.

Olivia Sarafini with honors.

Grace Emmy Brecky.

Shuyan Lin with high honors.

Shehan Lu with honors.

Mancheon Tong.

Penchong Wong.

Peijin Chen with honors.

Alexa Y. Jack.

Jordan Gregory with honors.

Emma Hauberg with honors.

Alison Elizabeth Lackner.

Lindsay Boots.

Savannah Grace Barber.

Alika Simmons.

Sammy Yian Lu.

Rachel Awesome.

Karina Sheridan Jones with honors.

Madeline Corte with high honors.

Isabella Ann Moyer.

Melanie Elizabeth McGinty.

Jamie Elizabeth Tidy.

Heidi Elizabeth Bryson.

Veronica Ann Budnick with high honors.

Meredith Rose Galetsky with honors.

Karin Becker with honors.

Julie Klein.

Katherine Elizabeth Leilani Michael with high honors.

Sorry.

Lily Marie Dubs.

Yusheen Chen.

Julia Robin Shaoto.

Grace Elizabeth Hines.

Bridget Munns.

Anna Carpenter with honors.

Alexandra Marie DeRose.

Audrey Hennigan with honors.

Karen Alcorense.

Megan Elizabeth LaRose.

Mariah Hosna Machuri.

Sawyer Andrew Perpich with honors.

Abigail Ann Harnish.

Mia Stavro.

Madeline Morris.

Erin Lockery.

Zoe Pride with honors.

Kara Lena Drew with honors.

Destiny Virgo.

Emily Alexa Ramos with honors.

Audrey Brayman with honors.

Giyun Wei.

Shelby Lynn Tate.

Ariana Cooper Lopez.

Danny She.

Shy Goa.

Shenyu Lang Ya.

Eugene Wong.

Chiyaya Ding with honors Joro Chen with honors.

L'Oreal Kira Hemingway.

Jiyuan Qu.

Yushi Shen with honors.

Joannafer Patricia Johnson.

Katie Thorrington.

Ashley Coleman.

Katherine Howard.

Kristin Mitsford.

Morgan Ahb.

Remy Nicole Crow with high honors.

So I can switch.

- Don't put the cards down.

- From the major in Special Education.

Paige Fleisher.

Jayla Young.

Julia Gold with high honors.

Madeline Roberts.

Sarah Nicole Day.

Morgan Waite.

Alexa Ann Graleski.

Ellen See.

Isabelle Marie Bakess.

Catherine Elizabeth Ransom with honors.

Lauren Bernick with honors.

Carol Anne Brigham.

Thomas Merlow.

McKenzie K. Weiberg.

Samantha Rae Caswell.

Natalie Holcomb with high honors.

Jillian Kendall.

Erin Holt.

- [Crowd] Yeah, Erin!

- Chelsea Reichl.

McKayla Underwood.

Karen Penabaker with high honors.

Cody Randall Bertles.

Laura Frisbee.

Samantha Rose Priest.

Lina Moore.

Graduates of the Urban Educators Cohort Program.

Jacqueline Solas.

Gavin Stockton with honors.

Graduates of the Global Educators Cohort Program.

Serena Dock Stater.

Graduates from the major in Secondary Education.

Sarah Rose Josefachek.

Elijah Whitman.

Melissa Jane Nellie with honors.

Cameron Berg.

Ryan Behan.

Noah Kinny.

Means Rollins Overway.

Jacob Alexander Mayor.

Leia Sugarman.

Abigail Holzman.

JT Crumb.

Madison Bezan with honors.

Starr Cynthia Hanson.

Cole Wittenberg.

Zachary Thomas Penrice with honors.

Joshua James Morton.

Nolan Warziniak.

John Creole.

Jacob Jamea.

Patrick O'Daniel.

Braden Olmstead.

Caitlyn Shaffer with honors Holly Hunt.

Cayden Anthony Peters with honors.

Joseph Steven Welch.

Amalia Johnson.

Case Deconing with honors.

Kylie Marie Wheeler with honors.

April Mueller.

Kayla Morrell with high honors.

Ashley Williams with high honors.

James Layman.

Dawson Richard.

Cameron Jo Daniels.

Claire Curvin.

Lake Bagley.

And Asher Larence.

(crowd cheering) (crowd cheering) - [Woman] Woo!

(crowd cheering) - Well, this is certainly a wonderful moment.

It's an appropriate one to cheer for sure.

(crowd cheering) College of Education faculty members share in this wonderful celebration of our graduates.

The faculty's contributions to their success have been essential and are a source of great pride to us in the college also.

College of Education faculty members are deeply committed to contributing to their professions through research, service, and the preparation of future leaders.

The reputation of our college's faculty and programs has been again recognized with a recent release of the 2022 edition of the US News and World Report ranking of graduate programs.

For the 28th consecutive year, our graduate programs in elementary and secondary education have been ranked number one in the nation and in total, eight programs in the college are ranked in the top 10 nationally.

(crowd cheering) We hope and know that you share our pride in these rankings.

They reflect the dedication of our faculty, the quality of our programs and the support of our very dedicated staff.

And of course the achievements of our students and our graduates.

I hope you'll appreciate the value added to your baccalaureate degree because it was earned at an internationally prestigious university and a college of education with a consistently high reputation.

And now it's fitting that I ask those representing the faculty to rise and accept our gratitude for their contributions to the education of our graduates.

Would my colleagues please rise?

We appreciate your fine work.

(crowd cheering) Thank you very much.

And there is another group of individuals who have made important contributions to the success of our graduates.

Our advisors have guided and supported these graduates from summer orientation through our commencement ceremony today.

I've seen that as I stood down here and saw the acknowledgement of my colleague with me, who has advised many of the students and they had a special word for him of thanks and appreciation.

Our advisors have answered questions, solved problems, and been a source of encouragement when expectations seemed overwhelming, or the right path was hard to find.

They've cheered our graduates on as they developed from new freshmen on their own for the first time to young adults, ready to take their place in the world.

Our advisors have also done a great deal to assist for this ceremony today.

I asked the College of Education advisors to rise and be recognized for the very important work that they do.

(crowd cheering) Thank you very much.

And there's another group of individuals who have contributed love, understanding, support, emotional as well as financial, and they share in the wonderful achievements we're celebrating today.

Accordingly, I ask the families of our graduates to rise and give us an opportunity to express our great thanks and appreciation.

(crowd cheering) This is particularly a fitting day to celebrate and celebrate our families with special recognition that I know there's a lot of moms, grandmothers, aunts, step moms and special women who have served in many special roles to support our graduates.

Thank you to each of you, as well as to all members of the families.

(crowd cheering) I'd also like to thank our readers, Mark Bayshore and Jamie Paisley, and a special things goes to Robin Linkhart for helping to coordinate this event.

(crowd cheering) And finally, the College of Education Alumni Board of Directors wishes to congratulate each of you.

We're confident that you take that, excuse me, we're confident that you take with you new perspectives and innovative ideas, as well as your deep commitment that will shape the society of tomorrow and contribute in very meaningful ways to the learning and wellbeing of others.

And we want to hear all about it as you go out into the world.

Let us know where your life takes you, send email, use social media, the alumni website, and your fellow alums and the alumni board and your faculty and staff will be celebrating your successes with you.

Also, please consider donating your time and your talents as you go forward to the college.

The college's alumni board of directors facilitates connections between alumni and current students through events, outreach, and scholarships.

We very much look forward to learning more about your interests and the alumni board looks forward to engaging with you in the future.

I now invite all of you to join in singing the Alma mater "MSU Shadows."

We will be accompanied by the MSU Graduate Choral Ensemble directed by Dimitri Berlinski.

And then when we follow this and after we process, guests may meet their graduates upstairs.

We share with you this great celebratory day and great pride in our graduates.

We look forward to hearing all your successes as you go out into the world and make very significant contributions.

Thank you so much for spending these recent years with us.

Thank you.

(crowd cheering) (band playing) ♪ MSU we love thy shadows ♪ ♪ When twilight silence falls ♪ ♪ Flushing deep and softly paling ♪ ♪ O'er ivy-covered halls ♪ ♪ Beneath the pines we'll gather ♪ ♪ To give our faith so true ♪ ♪ Sing our love for Alma Mater ♪ ♪ And thy praises MSU.

♪ (crowd cheering) (band playing MSU Fight Song) (crowd cheering)