Commencement speakers share advice with graduates

Yvonne Moody
Yvonne Moody

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CHADRON – 黑料大事记 State College commencement speakers Dr. Yvonne Moody and Dr. Megan Schuckman shared their love of 黑料大事记 State College and lessons learned on and off the CSC campus Saturday. Moody, a professor of Applied Sciences, spoke to master’s graduates in Memorial Hall while Schuckman, a family physician in 黑料大事记, spoke at the undergraduate commencement in the Chicoine Center. A total of 362 graduates received their degrees at the two ceremonies.

Moody focused her commencement comments on what she called the new three 鈥淩s鈥 of education: Relationships, Resources and Responsibilities, that form the core of Family and Consumer Sciences.

She said relationship are important and recalled learning from students of different grade levels in a one-room country school. A teacher in Moody鈥檚 country school, Miss Hannafeldt, made Moody and her classmates feel special, Moody said.

She added messages shared by past Teaching Excellence Award winners Bruce Hoem and Dr. Jim O鈥橰ourke as further examples for the graduates to follow.

鈥淢ake every opportunity you have to network and build on the relationships you have learned here and carry them forward as leaders,鈥 she said. 鈥淟ook to those who鈥檝e been here before.鈥

She encouraged the graduates to carefully consider how they plan to use their resources to create a high-quality life.

鈥淭hink about the people who are homeless and what we can do about that rather than thinking, 鈥楥an I have a second or third home somewhere else,鈥欌 Moody said.

In her conclusion, Moody asked the graduates to treat others with respect.

鈥淭hat is the greatest way we can advance our civilization,鈥 she said.

At the undergraduate ceremony, Schuckman, advised graduates to take time when making important choices and to seek advice from those in their inner circles.

鈥淭ake a deep breath and steady yourself. Big decisions should not be made lightly or in haste,鈥 she said. 鈥淔ind those who know you best and who allow you and encourage you to chase your dreams and do challenging things.鈥

She also advised the graduates to make excellence a habit.

鈥淵ou must be dedicated to the mundane details of what you do every day. You must be great at the building blocks that make up the foundation of what you do,鈥 she said.

As she reflected on her own undergraduate career at CSC, she said she would tell herself to enjoy the daily journey.

鈥淵es, have goals, have dreams, but don鈥檛 spend your life putting your nose to the grindstone with blinders on,鈥 Schuckman said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 put off your life just because of your dreams.鈥

In closing, she acknowledged her mother was right when she told her to seek out good friends in high school and reiterated that advice to the graduates.

鈥淪urround yourself with people who encourage you, people who inspire you. Also people who are going to redirect you and call you out when you need to be called out,鈥 Schuckman said.

-Tena L. Cook, Marketing Coordinator

Category: Campus News, Commencement