OSU celebrates 151st Commencement
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Media Contact: Page Mindedahl | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9782 | page.mindedahl@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University celebrated its 151st commencement Dec. 12-13 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
This winter’s ceremonies marked the second commencement overseen by OSU President Jim Hess, who became the university’s 20th president earlier this year.
The keynote address was delivered by Chancellor Sean Burrage, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. His career includes service as president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, vice president for executive affairs and chief of staff at the University of Oklahoma and two terms in the Oklahoma Senate, where he authored more than 50 enacted bills.
Burrage challenged graduates to carry OSU’s values with them beyond campus, pointing to the Cowboy Code as a guide for life after graduation.
“OSU doesn’t just hand you a diploma; it gives you a code to live by,” Burrage said. “The Cowboy Code calls on each of you to dream big, to stand for what’s right even when it’s hard, to give your best effort every day and to finish what you start.”
He reminded graduates that the Code reflects character rather than appearance.
“Being a Cowboy isn’t about what you wear; it’s about who you are,” Burrage said. “It means being loyal and true, living with integrity, working with purpose, and leading with courage and heart.”
Burrage encouraged the Class of 2025 to carry those values forward as they leave Stillwater.
“You’re not just receiving a diploma; you are inheriting a mission,” he said. “Wherever life takes you, remember you are always part of the Cowboy family.”
Commencement marked a special day for graduates and their families, but for the Spurlocks, this year carried added meaning.
For more than a decade, bagpiper Tony Spurlock has opened OSU commencements with a sound that has become part of the university’s tradition. His daughter, Gracie Spurlock, grew up watching from the arena floor. Now, she joined the Class of 2025 as a philosophy graduate preparing for law school.
“Growing up, I always had an OSU bow in my hair,” Spurlock said. “My dad has driven an orange truck for as long as I can remember. We have the alma mater hanging up on our wall. It’s always just been a huge part of our family.”
For other graduates, commencement represented the culmination of years of academic preparation and community support.
Andrea Avelar and Angelica Mojica both graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with degrees in communication sciences and disorders and are preparing to pursue graduate school.
“I’ve had such amazing support from faculty and from peers,” Mojica said. “It’s been a great experience.”
Both graduates said OSU’s sense of community shaped their college experience, from academic support to campus traditions.
“OSU is a community,” Avelar said. “Everyone is here for the same goal, and everyone wants to support everyone. It’s like our alma mater says, we’re always loyal and true.”
Mojica said the welcoming atmosphere stood out from the moment she stepped on campus.
“When you’re on campus, everyone has such a friendly smile,” she said. “It’s a community here, and everyone’s just here to support each other. It’s a great place to be.”
Commencement weekend began Friday, Dec. 12, with the Graduate College ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday’s ceremonies included the Ferguson College of Agriculture; the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology; and the College of Arts and Sciences at 10:30 a.m. Afternoon ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. recognized graduates from the College of Professional Studies; the College of Education and Human Sciences; and the Spears School of Business.
OSU Institute of Technology also honored its graduates Dec. 12 with ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Established in 1890 as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, OSU began classes in a Stillwater church and graduated its first six students in 1896.
The university expanded alongside the state, becoming Oklahoma State University in 1957 and growing into a multi-campus system. Today, OSU serves Oklahoma and the world through five campuses, Extension offices and research sites in every county, graduating with more than 5,000 students each year while advancing its land-grant mission.
The 151st commencement continued a proud tradition spanning more than a century, bringing together graduates, families, faculty and alumni to celebrate achievement and look toward the future with the strength of the Cowboy Code.
All commencement ceremony videos will be available on the OSU YouTube page.