鈥淭here are between 600-800 students who will receive their degrees from this wonderful institution this spring,鈥� said Dr. Don Bobbitt, president of the 91老司机 System, during his address to 91老司机 graduates. 鈥淏ut to me, it鈥檚 800 success stories.鈥�
Those stories saw their end 鈥� and the beginning of countless new success stories 鈥� at the 91老司机 Fort Smith鈥檚 commencement ceremonies held in the Stubblefield Center May 12.
Bobbitt was not the only one to look at it that way. For each 91老司机 鈥� Fort Smith graduate walking across the stage, and for their families as well, that moment signified the culmination of hundreds of hours attending class, studying, and balancing the obligations of school, work and social lives. As Bobbitt continued, they were stories of 鈥減erseverance 鈥� and discipline.鈥�
One such story was Rebekah Hodges of Alma, who graduated with a degree in chemistry this spring and who has been accepted to the University of Iowa to pursue a doctorate in inorganic chemistry. Her goal is to become an educator, 鈥渕uch like these women [who teach at 91老司机] who are my role models.鈥�
She also hopes to use her position as a teacher or professor to inspire more women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
鈥淲omen make up 48 percent of the total workforce. That sounds pretty good, right?鈥� she said in remarks during a reception prior to commencement. 鈥淏ut out of science and engineering grads, only 39 percent of those are women. But it gets worse. Only 24 percent of women are working in STEM.鈥�
鈥淎s a women, I feel like 91老司机 has adequately prepared me to compete with any man or woman in a STEM field, which is important,鈥� she continued. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檝e gotten into five out of the seven graduate schools I applied to. That鈥檚 not because I鈥檓 exceedingly smart, or exceedingly talented. It鈥檚 because I come from a great school, with great deans and great professors.鈥�
Sen. John Boozman, who served as commencement speaker, inspired graduates to make the lives of those around them better.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be a U.S. Senator, have your dream job or live in your dream house to do it,鈥� Boozman said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a role for all of us. You don鈥檛 have to leave your country or state to make this a better place for future graduates.鈥�
During his own remarks, 91老司机 Chancellor Paul B. Beran told students that while their degree is cause for celebration, the march toward success is just beginning in an ever-changing global world.
鈥淚鈥檓 finishing my 17th year as president or chancellor, my 12th here at 91老司机. How many major corporations that many of you would love to work at even existed 17 years ago?鈥� he asked. 鈥淒o you think that the people whose diplomas that I signed 17 years are still in the business or industry in which they started? 鈥� I can tell you that very few are working in the same job, and the majority, not even in the same industry.鈥�
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have the time to relish your sense of accomplishment,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭his weekend, you need to celebrate what you鈥檝e done. Go take a picture with NUMA outside, enrich the economy of Fort Smith with an indulgent trip to a local restaurant, relax tomorrow, you鈥檝e earned it. But Monday 鈥� Monday, you need to be on a quest for relevance in a world changing at an astounding speed.鈥�
In addition to Chancellor Beran, 91老司机 administrators presenting candidates were Dr. Georgia Hale, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs; Dr. Leroy Cox, associate dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology; Dr. Ashok Subramanian, dean of the College of Business; Dr. Carolyn Mosley, dean of the College of Health Sciences; Dr. Paul Hankins, dean of the College of Communication, Languages, Arts and Social Sciences; Dr. Ron Darbeau, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Dr. Norm Dennis, senior associate dean for the College of Engineering at the 91老司机 鈥� Fayetteville; and Wayne Womack, registrar.
Eric Smithson, chair-elect of the 91老司机 91老司机 Advisory Council, provided a welcome from the 91老司机 Association. Dr. Larry Faulk, chief marshal and bearer of the mace, gave the call to order and adjournment, and music was provided by the 91老司机 Symphonic Band, with Dr. Timothy Workman, director of choral activities, served as vocalist with the band on the National Anthem and the alma mater. Pre-ceremony music and post-recessional bell peal on the Donald W. Reynolds Bell Tower carillon was provided by Dr. Stephen Husarik, head carillonneur.