Seniors prepare themselves for graduation
Five weeks of school remain until students in the Class of 2012 will put on their caps and gowns and become the most recently graduated USU alumni.
Final preparations for the graduation ceremony are underway before this year’s seniors are sent off to face the job market. One of these preparations is deciding on the commencement speaker, which will be decided April 2 during the Faculty Senate meeting, said Teresa Denton, senior staff assistant in the President’s Office.
A number extracted from the USU Registrar’s Office showed 3,981 USU students are set to graduate, including students from USU Eastern. This number includes those who completed required credits during the summer 2011, fall 2011 and spring 2012 semesters. This number is subject to change as the remainder of the semester progresses.
“We have students turning graduation packets in to this day,” said Marci Smith, a supervisor in the Registrar’s Office.
As of March 23, the college with the largest group of graduating students is the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, with 940. The Jon M. Hunstman School of Business has the next largest group, with 767 set to graduate.
In preparation for the ceremony and life after USU, the Grad Fair is helping students organize their graduation plans. Booths in front of the USU Bookstore entrances provide students with order forms for graduation extras, including diploma frames and graduation invitations. The fair began Tuesday and will continue Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Representatives from the Development Office were present at the fair to help seniors ensure they can keep in touch with USU after they leave.
“We keep people’s records, so we are having seniors update their records so that we will know how to contact them when they move,” said Rachel Richards, staff assistant for the Development Office.
If students have not changed their information with the Development Office before leaving, they can do it by searching “alumni records” on the USU website.
Some students, like Rylee Gregory, a senior majoring in biochemistry, still plan on being a part of USU by attending sporting events and cheering on the Aggies. Gregory will move back home after graduating and begin applying to medical schools, working at a local hospital until she is accepted.
So far, seniors have contributed about 85 percent of the funding needed for this year’s senior project – a drinking fountain on the Quad – said Blake Nemelka, Student Giving Committee chair. A portion of the funding was covered through a grant from the Blue Goes Green Fee, and seniors were asked to contribute the $4,000 difference.
“The two most exciting years were honestly this year and last year, because we kind of like changed everything, instead of putting a bench or bike rack on campus, we wanted to do something cool,” Nemelka said. “This idea of a sustainable campus kept coming back … we got it approved … the fountain will be near the Ag Building and a lot of foot traffic.”
Nemelka said past seniors have sometimes expressed disappointment in their gifts, but he has only heard positive reactions about the installation of a drinking fountain on the Quad.
McKenna Miller said she plans to stay in contact with USU after graduating and wants to donate to the school in the future, when she is able. Miller, a senior majoring in music therapy, said she will complete a music therapy-related internship after graduating but realizes she needs to get a master’s degree to get the job she wants.
“From everyone I’ve talked to, the majority of jobs – especially in the social sciences, music and education – require you to have more than a bachelor’s degree,” Miller said.
For many students, graduation in May will be another stepping stone toward achieving their ultimate educational goals.
– catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu