The 15th Annual Fall commencement at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, in Percefull Fieldhouse.
The speaker for this year is Mary Margaret Miller, a graduate of Northwestern. She is a former band member of the Northwestern Band and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music for flute as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.
Approximately 90 students are in line to receive their bachelor’s degrees. Nine students will receive Master of Education degrees and three will receive a Master of Arts in American Studies.
About 14 students this year will graduate with honors. Nicole Marema, a student graduating with a Bachelor of Science Education in early childhood education, is one of these students.
“I chose this major because I wanted to do something that had an impact and I love working with children to help them reach their potential and help them grow as individuals.” Marema said, “ I did not chose this major right away and did not know I wanted to be a teacher my whole life but I have loved every second of being in the program and working with the students that I have had the opportunity to work with.”
This will be Marema’s ninth semester here at Northwestern. She was behind a semester due to her choosing her major later in school. Marema said that she is looking forward to becoming a certified teacher and having a classroom of her own.
“I have worked with students in classrooms of cooperating teachers but I am excited to work with students in my own classroom.” Marema said, “I am student teaching this semester and the experiences I have had this semester make me even more excited to graduate and work with future students.”
Looking towards the future Marema’s plans for after graduation are to move to Norman, Oklahoma where her boyfriend is finishing up his degree and find a teaching job in the area.
While many students are looking forward to graduating like Marema there are some who have already graduated who are excited to see them walk. Caleb Mosburg, Dean of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, is a former Northwestern fall graduate.
For words of wisdom Mosburg said, “Make sure you are there early you never know what may happen.”
Mosburg said that graduating is a fun experience, and that he is lucky to have experienced both fall and spring graduation. While he enjoyed both, fall graduation was a closer environment which made it a bit easier for his family to take photos.
“Find the people you want to sit by.” Mosburg said, “Enjoy and take it in. you only get your first degree once so enjoy it and know that all of your hard work paid off.”