International ag master’s students recognized in hooding ceremony
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
The Master of International Agriculture Program (MIAP) held its spring 2015 hooding ceremony May 8 to honor its 2015 graduates. The ceremony included a commencement address by Tulsa native and higher education benefactor Cathey Humphreys.
“What happens next for you?” Humphreys said. “Never stop looking at where you can go or who you can help. As you go through life’s journey, you have to be open minded. You never know what’s possible until you are doing it.”
Humphreys graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1970 and has taught business education and English literacy classes to adult learners. Humphreys and her husband, Don, a graduate of Oklahoma State University, share a passion for the benefits of higher education and international studies for Oklahoma college students. They have donated approximately $7 million to endowed scholarships, programs and chairs at OSU, OU, the University of Tulsa as well as the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
At the end of her speech, Humphreys passed on a message to the OSU graduates after remembering the days of playing tag as a child.
“You chose to earn your degree in international agriculture,” she said. “Why did you choose to do that? The intellectual stimulation, nurturing feel and energy at OSU is amazing. Now it’s time for you to think about how you can help another student have the same experience you did. So tag, you’re it.”
Dr. Shida Henneberry, director of the MIAP, opened the ceremony and reminded those attending about the significance of earing a master’s degree.
“Only 8 percent of the U.S. population has a master’s degree,” Henneberry said. “So you’re now a part of a select group of individuals in the country. Celebrate that.”
2015 MIAP graduates included:
- Zaira Gonzalez, Mexicali, Mexico
- Kathy Moore, Woodward, Oklahoma
- Emily Jost, Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Kaitlin Arnold, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- Britney Lardner, Belen, New Mexico
- Tansy Grimmett, Antlers, Oklahoma
- Brandon Raczkoski, Fort Pierce, Florida
- Reina Rivera, Hatillo, Puerto Rico
- Tami Angiulo, Tuscon, Arizona
- Ethan Driver, Knights Landing, California
- Nikki Schuth, Colbert, Oklahoma
- Gina Wells, Akron, Ohio
Story by Matt Cohlmia