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Oklahoma State University holds commencement; finishes year with record number of graduates

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Spring 2015 Commencement in Gallagher-Iba Arena

Oklahoma State University undergraduates gained insight from two distinguished public servants during three commencement ceremonies Saturday in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Oklahoma State held five commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday on its Stillwater campus. The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and Graduate College held ceremonies Friday followed by the undergraduate ceremonies Saturday, which were moved up due to the potential of severe weather.

In all, OSU graduated nearly 3,500 students this semester and for the full academic year conferred nearly 6,000 degrees, a university record and about five percent more than the previous best set a year ago.

U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Joseph Westphal

Saturday’s graduates heard from either U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Joseph Westphal or Oklahoma U.S. Senator James Lankford.

Westphal, who earned a master’s degree from Oklahoma State in 1974, spoke to graduates from the College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and Spears School of Business during the first and third ceremonies Saturday.  Lankford spoke to College of Human Sciences and College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology graduates in the second event.

Westphal, who taught for several years at OSU and served as the head of the political science department from 1975 to 1987, was recognized Saturday with an Honorary Doctor of Laws.

Looking back at all that has occurred since his time at OSU, Ambassador Westphal challenged graduates to consider all that would shape their lives when they might be giving a commencement address in the year 2060.

“More than any other generation before you, you will need to address the inevitable consequences of globalization, protectionism, nationalism, aggression and other actions that divide and collide,” Westphal said. “In the next four decades of this century you will share all these issues with all the people of the world.”

He said he has great confidence the graduates of Oklahoma State will act boldly in facing the future. “You are more capable than any other generation before you to lead into the future and share the world of the 21st century,” he said.

“As you ponder the questions I posed today, think about the tools you will need to sustain our America with all its greatness. And don’t be afraid to use them to engage and challenge complacency and do not be afraid to change, for it is essential for survival,” Westphal said.

Oklahoma U.S. Senator James Lankford

Senator Lankford said there are a couple of times in life where you get free advice from total strangers, and commencement is one of them.

He encouraged graduates to consider five things: 1) get out of debt, 2) reconnect with your faith, 3) heal family hurts, 4) serve and, while acknowledging not all the graduates are from Oklahoma, 5) don’t forget your Oklahoma roots and “how great this nation really is.”

“You’ve been prepared and well-equipped by this university,” Lankford said. “The nation needs a new generation of leaders. You’re now it. Welcome to real life. Welcome to leadership. Congratulations on being a graduate of one of the greatest universities in the world, Oklahoma State University."

U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Joseph Westphal
Spring 2015 Commencement
Spring 2015 Commencement
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