Honorary doctorate

May 14, 2007 06:44 pm

— Morehead State University’s student speaker at spring commencement exercises told the audience that graduation represents both a closure and a beginning.
Abby Mynatt of London said the commencement “is a celebration of what we have already accomplished. But graduation goes on until the last day of your life. You truly graduate when you show compassion, when you show love and when you show your humanity.”
MSU President Wayne D. Andrews conferred degrees on more than 1,100 candidates, including Mynatt, during the ceremony at the Academic-Athletic Center. A chemistry major, Mynatt was a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree.
Mynatt said the recent tragic events at Virginia Tech reminded her that every day is a miracle and each is special. She credited Morehead State’s faculty for preparing students not only academically, but also in the areas of compassion and humanity.
“There lies a dedication to each other that we can’t always sense, but it’s this link that binds us all to one another in momentous occasions like these or in tragedies like Virginia Tech. These bonds will connect us no matter what direction in life we each decide to take.”
Board of Regents Chair James H. Booth of Inez, presented the honorary Doctor of Public Service degree to Paul E. Patton, former governor of Kentucky.
Patton was the Commonwealth’s 59th governor from 1995 to 2003. He was the first governor in two centuries to serve two successive terms. The Lawrence County native was a national leader, particularly in higher education policy.
In accepting his degree, Patton noted that while such honors are always appreciated, receiving recognition from MSU was particularly rewarding for him.
Patton said he has enjoyed a long and close relationship with MSU. “Morehead in many ways is my University. In fact, if you had had an engineering program in the mid 50s, I would be an alum.”
Before the remaining degrees were conferred, Dr. Andrews recognized Shannon Niki Martin of Louisville, an ROTC student and candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree in health promotion. Martin will be commissioned a second lieutenant in a special upcoming ceremony at the White House. MSU’s Summer I term will begin on Monday, June 4.

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