On Dec. 16, more than 600 students will receive their diplomas at Youngstown State University’s fall commencement.
Altogether, 642 degrees will be awarded — 486 bachelor’s degrees, 104 master’s degrees, 48 associate degrees and four doctorate degrees.
Jacquelyn LeViseur, the director of alumni and events management, said caps and gowns will be distributed to students between Monday and Wednesday.
Michael Garvey, the CEO of M-7 Technologies and a Warren native, is scheduled to speak at the fall commencement. Garvey said he’s enthusiastic about being this semester’s speaker.
“I’m thrilled, absolutely thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” Garvey said. “I was approached by the administrators, and I said, ‘Absolutely.’”
Although Garvey said he’s excited, he added that he’s uncertain about what message to leave with graduates.
“I don’t have any idea right now,” he said. “You want to give them the right message after they’ve spent so much money on their education.”
Soon-to-be graduate Krista Ulbricht said her most memorable moment at YSU was switching from an accounting major to a theater major during her second semester.
“My mother passed away at the beginning of that term, but I stuck it out and kept going to school,” Ulbricht said. “Professor Todd Dicken was there for me. That’s what’s wonderful about the theater department; the professors are our teachers, mentors and friends. The professors have a passion for teaching and the art of theater, which allows for a fun and productive learning atmosphere.”
Ulbricht said she plans to interview for stage management positions after graduation. “If they don’t work out, I will be moving down south to find other theater opportunities,” she said.
Tina Cvetkovich has been a nontraditional social work major at YSU since 2005; it was her second attempt at simultaneously pursuing a degree and raising three children and a grandchild.
“I have enjoyed my time here. This campus is great,” Cvetkovich said. “I hope to come back next fall to start to my master’s in counseling.”
In the meantime, Cvetkovich said she plans to find work in her field. But she also left behind some advice for other nontraditional students.
“Keep track of everything you have going on,” Cvetkovich said. “Make sure you even schedule ‘me time,’ too, and not combine it with family time.”