[Commencement begins at 4:53]

Steve Meeker, BHSU Vice President of University Advancement

Good Morning. I'm Steve Meeker, Vice President of University Advancement, also a proud graduate of Black Hills State 40 years ago from the class of 1984, and it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 188th commencement ceremony at Black Hills State University. Please rise for the presentation of colors by the BHSU ROTC color guard.

[Presentation of the colors]

[The band begins playing Pomp and Circumstance]

Today's ceremony is led by our Student Senate President, Miss Cassidy Vanden Hoek. Joining her are participants in today's commencement ceremony and platform party guests including President Steve Elliot, and members of the Black Hills State University Administration, the Council of Deans, and Faculty Senate. Members of the esteemed faculty of Black Hills State University representing the College of Business and Natural Sciences, the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts, led by Miss Laura Prosser, assistant professor of accounting. And now it is my pleasure to present the graduates from the class of 2024. Candidates for the master's degree led by Dr. Charlie Lamb, professor of Biology and Chief Research Officer. Also led by Dr. Jane Klug, Dean of Students. Candidates for the baccalaureate degree from the College of Business and Natural Sciences led by Dr. Dan Asunskis, professor of chemistry and Chair of the School of Natural Sciences. Candidates for the baccalaureate degree from the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences led by Dr. Faye LaDuke-Pelster, associate professor of reading education and Chair of the School of Education. Candidates for the baccalaureate degree from the College of Liberal Arts led by Mr. Skott Chandler, assistant professor of mass communications. Candidates for the associates degree led by Dr. Rosie Sprague, assistant professor of American Indian Studies.

[End of Pomp and Circumstance]

Please remain standing for the National Anthem, sung by Dr. Jonathan Nero, professor of Music. We remind all in attendance that proper respect is to face the flag and stand at attention with your right hand over your heart. Men should remove their hat or cap, veterans and active duty military not in uniform may also salute the flag. And now ladies and gentlemen, our National Anthem.

[Singing of the National Anthem]

[Applause]

Please be seated. You couldn't hear me say please be seated but you knew what I said, thank you. It is now my pleasure to introduce the president of Black Hills State University, Mr. Steve Elliot.

[Applause]

Steve Elliot, BHSU President

Good morning, and welcome. It is my honor to introduce the members of the platform party. Please stand for a moment as I call your name, and please hold your applause. Mr. Whitney Rencountre, our honorary doctorate recipient. Mr. Steve Meeker, Vice President for University Advancement. Miss Kathy Johnson, Vice President for Finance and Administration. Dr. Jon Kilpinen, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Cheryl Anagnopoulos, Faculty Senate President. Dr. Amy Fuqua, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Graduate Studies. Dr. Jarrett Moore, Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Cynthia Anderson, Dean of the College of Business and Natural Sciences. Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Gardner, professor of military science. Major John Lundeen, assistant professor of military science. Miss April Meeker, registrar. Miss Cassidy Vanden Hoek, Student Senate President, and Dr. Megan Reder-Schopp, our Black Hills University Alumni Association President. Please give this group a round of applause.

[Applause]

Graduates. it's now a time to recognize a group of individuals who have been your partners along this journey. They provided mentorship and encouragement as you attended classes and completed your coursework. Would you please join me by showing your appreciation for the faculty for their efforts.

[Applause]

Congratulations, graduates! Your day has arrived. Today, you become a college graduate. Your degree will open doors to opportunities that you may not even be able to imagine today, and I am so excited for you and your future. As hard as you've worked earning your degree, you did not get here alone. Your family has been a great source of support to you throughout your college years. They are very proud of you, and many of them are here today to celebrate with you. I know as you walk across this stage, they will be bursting with joy. So, graduates, I'm going to ask you to please stand and look around to find your family and loved ones. Will you please help me in thanking them for their love and support of you?

[Applause]

Very good, thank you. Now, there are two words commonly used on days like today. So one is graduation, and the other is commencement. Graduation signifies the end, the finish line. It celebrates the fact that you've successfully completed this phase of your education, and it brings closure to this chapter of your life. Now commencement, on the other hand, signifies the starting gate, the beginning of a new life. It's a transition from the past into the future. So commencement celebrates that the best part of your life is still ahead of you. Both terms are most appropriate today and both are very meaningful. I choose, however, to leave with my congratulations on your commencement, your new beginning. Your future is bright. You have the ability, the passion, and commitment to make a difference. As Yellowjackets, I know that wherever you go, you will carry your alma mater with you, and you will represent us well. So, congratulations, graduates, on commencement and all of the bright and beautiful possibilities that are waiting for you. As part of today's ceremony, we are pleased to recognize Mr. Whitney Rencountre with the awarding of an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service. The Honorary Doctorate is the highest honor bestowed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and the universities. Recipients have distinguished themselves through outstanding service and exemplary achievements within their fields of endeavor. Mr. Rencountre, I ask that you please join Dr. Kilpinen and I on the lower stage for the presentation of the award.

Steve Meeker, BHSU Vice President of University Advancement

Mr. Whitney Rencountre II is the Chief Executive Officer of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation overseeing the largest mountain-carving in-progress, The Indian University of North America and the Indian Museum of North America. Whitney is a graduate of Black Hills State and a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. He previously served as the associate director and instructor at the Indian University of North America and directed the Tiapei Program for 11 years, a culturally based mentoring initiative that supported over 1,000 students annually in the Rapid City School District. Mr. Rencountre's leadership has been widely recognized. He was named one of 605 Magazine's South Dakota Young Leaders of 2017, and was a 2019 honoree of the Western South Dakota Child Protection Council. He has served as chairman of the South Dakota Humanities Council and Visit Rapid City, and currently serves on the board of directors for the John T Vucurevich Foundation. Driven my passion for fostering connections, Mr. Rencountre is dedicated to building bridges within the community he serves. An interesting historical fact, in 1981, Korczak Ziolkowski, the sculptor of Crazy Horse Monument, was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Black Hills State University. Whitney, Black Hills State is not only proud of your accomplishments, but we're excited to see what the future will bring. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Rencountre, and help welcome him to the podium to say a few words.

[Applause]

Whitney Rencountre II, Honorary Doctorate Recipient

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, friends and relatives. This is such a great honor and a privilege to be here, to share this day with the awesome graduates of Black Hills State University. The faculty, the leadership, and also thank you to the Board of Regents. As I set on my journey in 1998, leaving the Crow Creek Sioux tribe, growing up in a single parent home, on this journey to get a college education, to try to make a difference so that I could help the communities that I serve. And when I arrived on campus, I was welcomed by my other, who became my adopted mother, the late professor emeritus [unintelligible], and many others like Junior [unintelligible], Stephanie Charging Eagle, and many others that welcomed students to campus. And I walked up the stairs of Wenona Cook dorms, the seven foot, 300 pound football players and I was a little intimidated on my first day. But I found my way, and in this very gym I met a young lady who also was attending Black Hills State University from Standing Rock Sioux tribe, Jessie Taken Alive. We joined together and played basketball, now we've been married for 24 years and have four beautiful daughters, and they are here with me today.

[Applause]

I want to say thank you to my beautiful mother, Mona Rencountre, who helped teach me how to live the right way. My grandparents, my friends and relatives, the Board of directors, the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, and Black Hills State really gave me the confidence, the direction to understand that if you mee your family and friends halfway with effort, hard work, dedication, you don't cheat the process. You show up everyday, you work hard. And the values and virtues that I learned from the faculty, the professors, the staff here on campus really catapulted and opened a lot of doors in my life, and I'm very grateful and appreciative for that. So this is such a great honor and a privilege today, but this would not be possible without the great support of all those that have helped me in this journey and in life, but especially being here on campus at Black Hills State University. And this campus will always hold a special place in my heart. And I want to encourage all the graduates and the journey you are on, congratulate you and your families as I know there's a lot of special opportunities ahead for you, in the journey that you're on. And President asked if I would share a song, in a song of a blessing, of a thank you to close out my speech today, so I'll honor that request from the President. If you would rise at this time, ladies and gentlemen, I'll offer this to you, the family, and the relatives.

[Singing in Rencountre's native language]

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the rest of your day.

[Applause]

Steve Elliot, BHSU President

Thank you, Whitney, that was amazing. Black Hills State University has a long history of supporting our military. Before continuing with our program, we would like to recognize all veterans, service members, and their spouses for their service to our nation. Please stand and be recognized.

[Applause]

It is now my pleasure to ask Major John Lundeen to come forward for the conferring of commissions.

Major John Lundeen

Good morning. As he said, I am Major John Lundeen with the University's Army ROTC program. I'm up here right now because one of the young men about the graduate, in addition to his full-time class schedule, took on some additional challenges of both mind and body to test whether he had what it takes to become a United States Army Commissioned Officer. He passed that test with flying colors, in fact he's going to be an aviator, and shortly after graduation he's going to flight school. He'll be flying Blackhawk helicopters and he'll be a medevac pilot. I have a lot of respect for that job. I've gotten to see the firsthand the life-saving capability that that job brings to the battlefield. What I'm about to do next is call up Cadet Brody Weavil and he will take his oath of office, and I will dismiss him as a second Lieutenant, the newest second Lieutenant in the United States Army. What I'm going to ask of you is for your help in thanking him once I dismiss him. You can thank him in whatever form you like, perhaps [unintelligible] applause or something. And so you're all clear, and

Brody, so you're clear, what you're being thanked for is not what you have done, but what you're committing to, because if the next 20 years is any indicator of the next 20, this nation will ask much of you. And you coming up here and taking that oath is you answering in the affirmative that you will respond to that call. Without further ado, Cadet Weavil, report.

[Lundeen gives Weavil the Oath of Office away from the microphone]

[Applause]

Steve Elliot, BHSU President

I am pleased to introduce the Black Hills State University commencement wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. David Berberick, associate professor of music and director of bands.

[Music]

[Applause]

Thank you for that wonderful performance. It is my pleasure to ask our student senate president, Miss Cassidy Vanden Hoek to come forward to deliver the charge to the graduates. She's a junior from Corisca, South Dakota, majoring in business administration with a specialization in human resource management.

Cassidy Vanden Hoek, Student Senate President

Good morning class of 2024, honored guests, parents, family members, and friends. Thank you for giving me opportunity to share a few words with you all this morning. It is a great honor to stand in front of a group of my peers, many friends to offer my congratulations and best wishes to the graduates. As Student Senate President, I have one question for you. How do you tell your people's story? When I say "people's story" I mean the change that was inflicted on you by others that shape you to be the graduates sitting in those chairs today. This question comes from a conversation I was having with an advisor about what makes BH special. A common theme that came up time and time again was the people that we have here, the students, the professors, the staff. It's all of you that make BH special. Now that you've finished this chapter in your story, how are you going to tell this story to others? How do you begin to explain all the late night studying, the early morning workouts, those tears shed over that one homework assignment. Graduates, you know what homework assignment I'm talking about. Through all those tough times, what pushed you to overcome? A lot of it was your own drive to keep going and accomplish this great thing, and I'm very proud of you for all the hard work that you put in. But just think of that one time when you didn't have enough strength to do it yourself. Who did you call? Those are the people that have guided you to this point. They filled in the blanks of your story when you couldn't write it yourself. Whoever those people are for you, I urge you just to thank them today on this special occasion. They are the ones that didn't give up on you. They're the ones that kept pushing you towards today. Because it really, truly, takes a village to raise a student. I encourage you to keep writing that beautiful story, just as you wrapped up this first chapter and move onto the next one. I'm very proud of you all, and I look forward to reading you people's stories. Have a great day and celebrate. You've worked very hard for this. Congratulations, class of 2024.

[Applause]

Steve Elliot, BHSU President

Thank you, Cassidy. Graduates, we are now at the moment for which you have been preparing for the last several years. Before you come forward to receive your diploma, I would like to take a moment to recognize those who are first generation graduates. This extends to both the graduates and the members of our audience. If you are the first in your family to graduate from college, please stand and be recognized.

[Applause]

A photographer from The Grad Team will be taking professional photographs which will be available for purchase one week following the ceremony. The website address is on the inside cover of your commencement program. Family and friends of the graduates, as courtesy to the students who are graduating as well as the people sitting around you, please remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony. And now it is my pleasure to present Dr. Cynthia Anderson, Dean of the College of Business and Natural Sciences.

Dr. Cynthia Anderson, Dean of the College of Business and Natural Sciences

Graduates, I would like you to please stand. President Elliot, I have the honor to present to you the class of 2024. On behalf of the faculty, I present them to you as fully qualified to receive their diplomas.

Steve Elliot, BHSU President

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the South Dakota Board of Regents and upon the recommendation of the faculty, I hereby confer upon you the associates, bachelors, and masters degree with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities appertaining thereto. Please be seated.

Dr. Jon Kilpinen, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The first group of students who will be asked to come forward are graduating with master's degree. Dr. Amy Fuqua, Dean of Graduate Studies will hood them as part of today's ceremony. Will the candidates for the master's degree please rise and come forward?

[Graduates are hooded and receive their masters degrees]

Will the first row of bachelor's degree candidates from the College of Business and Natural Sciences rise and come forward to receive your diplomas?

[Graduates receive their bachelors degrees]

At this time, Dr. Jarrett Moore, Dean of the College of Education will take over the reading of graduate names. Will the first row of bachelor's degree candidates from the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences please rise and come forward to receive your diplomas?

[Graduates receive their bachelors degrees]

At this time, Dr. Amy Fuqua, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts will take over the reading of the graduate names. Will the first row of bachelor degree candidates from the College of Liberal Arts please rise and come forward to receive your diplomas?

[Graduates receive their bachelors degrees]

Will the candidates for the associates degree please rise and come forward to receive your diplomas?

[Graduates receive their associates degrees]

Steve Elliot, BHSU President

Academic traditions, such as the symbolism of the tassel are steeped in history. Moving the tassel to the left after graduating is a symbolic of moving from college to another stage in your life. It is my privilege to ask you to move your tassel from right to left. Congratulations.

[Applause]

Here to bring you greetings from the Alumni Association is Dr. Megan Reder-Schopp, Black Hill State University Alumni Association President.

Dr. Megan Reder-Schopp, BHSU Alumni Association President

Good morning, friends, family, and graduates. I am excited to welcome this class to our alumni family. Today, you are joining a group of elite individuals, from successful business owners, thriving entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders in the field. A foundation for successful and fulfilling career began the moment you stepped on campus. A mentor of mine once told me "Begin as you intend to go on." For all of you, the choice to pursue higher education at Black Hills State was your beginning. So I challenge you as you leave here today to begin each day with intention. if you intend to start your own business, become a classroom teacher, or whatever you next step may be, do it with intention. Now, I ask you for your help. Success and future of this wonderful university depends on our alumni, our community, and our donors. You can help Black Hills State be successful by referring future students, attending our alumni events, volunteering your time or your talents, and donating to the university when you are able. I can promise you that you will benefit from connecting with your fellow alumni and keeping you alma mater in mind. I wish you so much luck in your next chapter. Congratulations class of 2024 on this amazing accomplishment. And for myself and the rest of the Black Hills State Alumni Board, I wish you all a happy holiday season. Thank you.

[Applause]

Steve Elliot, BHSU President

We will conclude today's ceremony with the singing of our alma mater. The recessional will follow immediately after. Please remain in the stands until the graduates and faculty have exited. At this time, I ask everyone to please stand and join us in the singing of our alma mater, which is printed in the back of your program. Congratulations graduates, enjoy the rest of your day. Once we conclude with the alma mater, we will be ready to begin the recessional.

[Playing of the alma mater]

[Applause]

Congratulations all graduates, and now we will begin the recessional.

[Music]