Published: May 13, 2008 02:03 pm         

MSU & MCTC graduations

MOREHEAD, Ky.---Robert McWhorter didn’t take the normal route to become a Morehead State University graduate. After high school, the Georgetown native served five years of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps before starting on his degree.

“I had come to a point in my previous career path where I experienced stagnation in job promotion,” McWhorter told the standing-room only crowd gathered for MSU’s Spring Commencement exercises on Saturday (May 10).

“I loved my job, but when it came down to it, I wanted to keep on moving up the ladder and the only thing stopping me was a college degree. At that point, I realized how important my education was, and how my life would be driven by my knowledge base. Coming back to college from the workforce put an entirely new perspective on learning.”

As the student speaker, McWhorter of Morehead, addressed the more than 800 MSU students that participated in the ceremony in the Academic-Athletic Center. More than 1,000 were degree candidates.

There were smiles, cheers, and lots of photographs taken as the newest alumni took the ceremonial walk across the stage, signifying the completion of their college degrees. They were greeted by MSU President Wayne D. Andrews who offered a congratulatory handshake to each of those completing graduate and undergraduate degree requirements.

McWhorter completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the College of Business. He will pursue a career in accounting and plans to take the CPA exam.

One of the many honors that McWhorter received during his senior year was a ranking of 22 out of 4,099 cadets throughout the nation, and a No. 1 ranking in Kentucky and Ohio.

In his final words, McWhorter remembered one of his professors, Hollis D. (Wayne) Isham, who died in January.

“In keeping with the words that a great soldier once used, class of 2008, go forth and do great things.”

Following the ceremony, the newest graduates were inducted into the MSU Alumni Association by its president, Gary Adkins of Morehead.

Morehead State’s summer intersession begins Monday, May 12.

Maysville Community and Technical College

Maysville Community and Technical College hosted the 39th commencement exercises, Friday, May 9, on the front lawn of the Maysville campus. Students participated from the Licking Valley, Maysville, and Rowan campuses. Ms. Brittany Day provided the welcome from the Student Government Association. Mr. Charlie Calvert delivered a welcome from the Board of Directors and introduced the speaker, the Chief Judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Ms. Sara Walter Combs.

Local graduates included:

Rowan County -- April Marie Arnett, Rufina Gail Back, Jessica Lynn Bowman, Misty M. Buelterman, Lea Ann Castle, John Matthew Cobler, Brittany Nikkole Day, Martha Nicole Holbrook, Toni Holloway, Judy Carol Jefferson, Alisa Dianne Littleton, Chad E. Lyons, Jeffrey Allen McClain, Clineon P. Pelfrey, Crystal Jane Sargent, Robin Mae Skaggs, Kimberly Louise Thomas, Summer Brittani White.

Morgan County -- Michelle Lynn Adkins, Roger Allen Cantrell, Brandon L. Conley, Kasandra Mae Elliott, Travis William Haney, Sabrina R. Lewis, Amanda Ruth Lykins, Raleigh Plenty, Cynthia Nicole Smith, Justin C. Warren.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Dr. Robert Michael Berry. He is the son of Marilyn Berry and the late Dr. Robert Berry, who was an outstanding chemistry teacher at MCTC. Dr. Berry is married to Elizabeth Ann Setser and they have one son. His illustrious post-secondary education began at MCTC where he graduated with honors in 1992. He then went on to the University of Kentucky, completing his first degree in Agriculture. Dr. Berry also earned a Master’s Degree in Animal Science, and then graduated from the University of Kentucky Pharmacy School summa cum laude. Dr. Berry’s first pharmacy job was at the Kroger’s in Maysville, followed by serving as manager of the Kroger Pharmacy in Morehead. He is presently part owner and manager of Fleming Drug Store in Flemingsburg. He is a farmer and a devout church worker in the Washington United Methodist Church.

The Distinguished Service to Education award was presented to Mr. Don Kiser, Mayor of Paris, visionary leader and advocate of higher education. As the elected Mayor of Paris, Kiser saw a need within his community for offering local post-secondary courses. He offered the empty basement floor of the city’s Municipal building in downtown and asked the college to consider an extension site there to which they agreed.

Following the commencement exercises the graduating class and their family and friends were honored with a reception.

Dr. Jan Muto, Interim President of MCTC, shared college highlights with the graduates and guests. She announced that the college will be celebrating its 40th anniversary throughout 2008. The City of Maysville has committed $100,000 to support the creation of walking trails and an arboretum on the Maysville campus and the project could get underway as early as this fall.

Student Government President, Brittany Day, was one of 16 graduates of the inaugural class of Leadership KCTCS. Leadership KCTCS is an initiative of NewCitizen Kentucky, a partnership formed by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, the NewCities Institute and the Kentucky League of Cities. The program focuses on promoting civic engagement and leadership. Through a special grant from Fifth Third Bank, the NewCities Institute and the Kentucky League of Cities provided a special gift to the graduates: Sylvia L. Lovely’s, The Little Red Book of Everyday Heroes. Dr. Muto praised the accomplishments of the graduates and told them, “I hope that one of the most important characteristics of the MCTC experience is discovering how much you matter in the lives of others.”