~1,327 students are set to graduate May 14

At some point in time, each student must come to the end of his or her undergraduate experience. While there are a host of emotions that each graduate experiences, excitement and anxiety are the two that mostly stand out.

With the largest graduating class in the history of Southeast Missouri State University, 1,327 students are preparing to step into the next chapter of their lives once they graduate at the university's Spring Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. May 14 in the Show Me Center. A total of 1,051 undergraduate and 276 master's and specialist students will receive their degrees in their respective fields.

Dr. Tamela Randolph, chair of the Department of Mathematics at Southeast, will deliver the commencement address.

Randolph joined Southeast in 1997 as an assistant professor of mathematics, and since that time she has risen through the academic ranks, serving as associate professor for four years before assuming the role of department chair in 2009. During her tenure, she also has served as interim dean of the College of Education and interim associate dean and acting dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

She holds a doctoral degree in mathematics education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, a Master of Natural Science in mathematics from Southeast and a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in secondary mathematics education from Truman State University.

Prior to the commencement ceremony, an Honors Convocation will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the Show Me Center to honor 384 graduates. Dr. John Kraemer, professor in the Department of Biology, director of Environmental Science Program and the 2015 recipient of the university's Faculty Merit Award, will present the Honors Convocation address.

Among the undergraduate students at the Honors Convocation, 65 students will graduate summa cum laude (3.9 to 4.0 cumulative grade point average); 98 will graduate magna cum laude (3.75 to 3.89 cumulative grade point average); and 183 will graduate cum laude (3.5 to 3.74 cumulative grade point average).

Six students also will be recognized for graduating with academic distinction in their department major, 30 will be recognized for completing the Jane Stephens Honors Program and two will be recognized for graduating with honors in an associate's degree.

Dr. Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success and dean of students, said she is proud of each new group of graduates.

"With each graduating class, I always get a feeling of pride and accomplishment for each student once they cross the stage and receive their diplomas," Below said.

Below also encourages graduates to participate in the commencement ceremony as a way to celebrate their significant accomplishment.

"The feeling of accomplishment is one that I know many students feel when they know that they have graduated, and being able to celebrate with faculty and family is an indescribable feeling and an experience that I want each student to have," Below said.

Accounting senior Patrick Marshall is excited about the new adventure he will embark on once he graduates from Southeast.

"Graduating from Southeast means one part of my life is over and I get to start a new journey," Marshall said. "I will definitely miss Southeast because everyone is really friendly here and I don't feel like that is how the real world is."

Advertising senior Mayoo Lawal said she feels like she has made the best of her time at Southeast and truly has grown from her college experience.

"Coming from Nigeria, I believe that I have learned a lot about myself in America," Lawal said. "The educational experience has allowed me to grow tremendously, and I feel like I have made the most of this experience and while I am sad to see it end, I am excited to be graduating."

Below offered advice to graduating students as they prepare to move on to do other things.

"Graduation is a beginning, not an ending," Below said. "For all the students that will graduate, regardless of what stage they are in in their lives, where they're from or where they will be going once this is over, there is an endless amount of opportunity that is available to them, and I truly hope that they remember that they can do anything that they put their mind to."