On to the next phase

Some finished in two years; some took much longer. Some were greeted by spouses and children; some by parents. Some lived close; some commuted longer distances.

But all students who walked across the stage in the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center at State Fair Community College on Friday left the building finished with a phase in their lives.

About 400 students left the ceremony with degrees and professional certificates.

For new graduate Diane Yantz, receiving her degree, an associate of applied science degree in accounting, was the end of a long process.

“You can’t even imagine. I started in 1992,” she said. After a few starts and stops — and three children —  Yantz buckled down. She moved to Sedalia five years ago, and started at SFCC with a few credits. She hopes to continue attending SFCC to work on her associate of arts degree and a four-year degree from Central Methodist University, which offers classes at the college.

“But done is done, right? This is one out of the way,” she said.

For Brandy Pugh, 29, of Clinton, her associate of applied science degree in accounting is a way into the workforce.
“I feel great. I feel accomplished,” she said.

Pugh graduated high school in 1998, and like Yantz, had a few tries and three children before receiving her degree.

She said she felt she “fit right in” at SFCC, because there were other non-traditional students.

Josh Krause, 20, finished his associate of arts degree in music in two years, and plans to attend the University of Central Missouri for a degree in music education.

The Sedalia resident said he was glad to be moving on, but will miss what he described as the family atmosphere of the music department at SFCC.

“There are a lot of great people here,” he said.

Knob Noster resident Megan Randolph, 22, said she was “very happy. It’s been a long road traveled” to get her associate of applied sciences degree in radiologic technology. She attended SFCC for three and a half years, first fulfilling prerequisite demands and then as a radiology student.

“They strive really hard to teach us what we need to know; they’re good at preparing us,” she said.

She plans to enter the workforce, and is interviewing for jobs now.

Members of the college’s first graduating class, the class of 1970, were on hand to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the school.

Commencement speaker and this year’s Distinguished Alumna Debbie Noland, class of 1972, pointed out in her speech the changes they have seen since leaving, from the advent of computers to the size of the school.

“I want to suggest to you that, more than anything else, your success beyond this point will depend on your ability to handle change,” she told the graduates.

Graduates need to be able to handle the changes that come after college, changes that can sometimes be uncomfortable.

Noland likened the graduation to a process of gaining new growth marks as a child, measured against the woodwork of her childhood kitchen, and reminded graduates that each change marks the beginning of a new cycle.

“Changes may be chances to attain new growth marks,” she said.