COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 at 10 AM

Good morning. I'm Steve Meeker, Vice President for University Advancement. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 184th commencement ceremony at Black Hills State University. Please rise for the presentation of colors by the BHSU ROTC color guard. Today's ceremony is led by our student senate president, Marissa Danforth. Joining her are participants in today's commencement party and platform party guests, president Laurie Nichols, and regent John Bastian. Also represented are members of the Black Hills State University administration, the council of deans, and the 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 Dr. Brain Eberhard, assistant professor of education. And now ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present the graduates from the class of 2022. Candidates for the master's degree lead by Dr. Charlie Lamb, professor of biology and chief research officer. Also led by Dr. Jane Klug, Dean of Students. Baccalaureate degree candidates graduating from the university honors program, led by Dr. Katrina Jensen, associate professor of chemistry and the director of the honors program. Candidates for the baccalaureate degree from the College of Business and Natural Sciences, led by Dr. Dan Asunskis, associate professor of chemistry, and chair of the school of natural sciences. Candidates for the baccalaureate degree from the College of Education and Behavioral Science, led by Dr. Emilia Flint, professor of psychology and chair of the school of behavioral sciences. Candidates for the baccalaureate degree from the College of Liberal Arts, led by Dr. Nicholas Drummond, associate professor of political science, and the chair of the school of mathematics and social sciences. Candidates for the associates degree, led by Ms. Gina Gibson, professor of digital communication and the chair of the school of arts and humanities. Please remain standing for the national anthem, performed by Ayden Reed. 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 or active military not in uniform may also salute the flag. And now ladies and gentlemen, our national anthem.

Please be seated. And now ladies and gentlemen it gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce to you the president of Black Hills State University, Dr. Laurie Nichols.

Good morning. Welcome to our winter commencement. We are so happy you're here, and I want to say a very special congratulations to our graduates. It is now my honor to introduce members of the platform party. I would ask that they stand for a moment as a call their name, and would you please hold your applause till the end. Regent John Bastian is our ceremonial representative from the South Dakota Board of Regents. Dr. Jon Kilpinen serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Amy Fuqua is interim Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies. Ms. Marissa Danforth serves as our student senate president. Dr. Cynthia Anderson is interim Dean of the College of Business and Natural Sciences. Dr. Betsy Silva is Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Daluss Siewert is acting Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Mrs. April Meeker serves as our registrar. You've already met Mr. Steve Meeker, Vice President for University Advancement. And Ms. Jodi Garcia is the Black Hills State University Alumni Association President. Would you help me in welcoming our stage party?

Graduates, now is an appropriate time to recognize a group who have been your educators and your partners in this journey. They provided mentorship, encouragement, certainly teaching, and possibly a little prodding as you completed your coursework. So I'm going to ask if the faculty would stand and maybe turn around and face the graduates- so faculty would you help me out and stand- and graduates, would you stand, and would you help me in thanking this distinguished group of faculty? Please stand graduates, and let's thank the faculty for all of their work.

Thank you so much, and you may be seated. Congratulations graduates. Your day has arrived. Today, you become a college graduate, where you join about one third of all adults in the United State who hold a bachelors degree or more. Your degree will open doors to opportunities that, quite frankly, you can't even imagine today. It certainly did for me, and I know it will for you as well. I'm so excited for your future and all the possibilities that you will realize. Becoming a college graduate is a distinction in our society that sets you apart from many others, and that distinction comes because our society values education. Evidence suggests that college graduates are not only highly employable, but they also enrich the civic and economic life of their communities as they volunteer, provide community leadership, and make philanthropic contributions. As Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful tool which you can use to change the world." Today, with a degree in hand, your ability to make our world a better place becomes much greater. As hard as you have worked on earning this degree, we all know you didn't get there alone. Your family has been a great source of support to you throughout these college years. And in a reciprocal fashion, your achievement has provided inspiration and hope to your family. Today, they are here to celebrate with you. And I know as you walk across the stage, they will be bursting with pride. They love you. You matter to them. So, graduates, I'm going to ask if you would stand one more time, so graduates would you stand up for me? And look around, see if you can find your family, and then will you help me in thanking them for all the support they have provided to you?

Families, thank you so much for being here to support these graduates. Thank you, graduates, you may be seated. There are two words that are commonly used today, one is graduation, the other is commencement. Graduation really signifies the end- the finish line. It celebrates the fact that you have completed this phase of your education, and it really brings closure to this chapter in your life. Graduation says, "Woo hoo! You're done!" Commencement, on the other hand, signifies the starting gate- the beginning of a new life. It says, "You're transitioning from the past to the future." Commencement celebrates that the best part of your life is ahead of you. Both terms are most appropriate today and both are very meaningful, but today I choose to leave you with my congratulations on your commencement- on your beginning. Your future is bright. You have ability, passion, and commitment to make a difference. And as Yellow Jackets, graduates of this great university, I know that wherever you go, you will carry your alma mater with you, and represent us well. Congratulations graduates on your commencement- on all the bright and beautiful possibilities that are in store for you. Congratulations, we are so proud of you. It is my pleasure now to ask our student senate president, Ms. Marissa Danforth to come forward to deliver the charge to the graduates- Marissa.

Good morning Dr. Nichols, Regent Bastian, platform members, parents, friends, and family, and most importantly, graduates. It is my pleasure to be here this morning to celebrate the graduates and all their accomplishments. My name is Marissa Danforth. I am from the Oneida Nation in Oneida, Wisconsin. I currently serve as the student senate president. Black Hills State University, as an academic institution, understands it's responsibility to recognize the history in the land on which we reside. We would like to acknowledge the land of the (unintelligible) that our university now lies on, and the significance it holds for neighboring tribal people. This past month, our campus lost a significant person to many of our Native students, Jace DeCory. Professor DeCory served as a mentor, teacher, advisor, and leader to many of us. While we miss her earthly presence in our lives, we celebrate her teachings and her beliefs daily in the Jace DeCory Center for American Indian Studies. So today, I'm going to share with you three things that I have learned from Jace. First, is the importance of family. While we are so thankful for those family members who are here today, I would like to focus on the concept of our chosen families. As each of you know, in order to be successful and survive college, we all must create our own chosen families. For some of you, it's your student organizations. Perhaps its your late-night group that meets at Millstone. Or it can be your roommate that you met your very first semester. For me, my chosen family is the members of Lakota Omniciye and the community we have created in the American Indian Center. No matter who your chosen family is, what makes those special is what you share together. It is unconditional acceptance and support. Your chosen family are the people that know you better than yourself. So, for our families and those who we chose to be in our family circle, thank you for being here and helping our graduates celebrate this fantastic accomplishment. The second lesson I have learned from Jace is the important lesson of human kindness and the spirit of inclusion. As we gather here today, we honor and include those who came before us, who have shared their lives, wisdom, and strength. So, they may not be here in person, yet their impact on us is great. If Jace hadn't served BHSU and our students for over 30 years, we wouldn't have the American Indian Center. If the Center was not here, many of us, including myself, would not be here. So, for all those leaders, mentors, caregivers, parents, and elders who may no longer be here with us, their spirit is here. Their legacy has taught us the importance of kindness and mentorship. I want to press on you today to think of those who have taught you to be kind- to be humble- to be human. Our world needs more human kindness, understanding, and community unification. As graduates, that will be your charge- to go our into the world to demonstrate what we have learned from being here these past years. We have experienced kindness, we understand the importance of hard work, and we have practiced the art of patience and understanding. May each of you continue to serve your new communities in a humanistic way, where kindness and understanding prevail. So this leads me to my final lesson that was gifted to me and so many others by Jace. We are honored to experience and receive her gift of good will. Jace was willing to give up herself freely. She shared her knowledge extensively, and she made the world a better place every day. So graduates, as we move forward in your careers, not only do I challenge you to be kind and humanistic, I encourage you to use your skills, strengths, and abilities to make this world better. We are fortunate to have incredible faculty and staff who teach us great things every day. Take what they have taught you and use the knowledge and experience you have gained these past years to do good. Live your lives well. Bring joy to others. Be a credit to your profession, and never stop learning. So congratulations graduates, I leave you with one final thought today: Mitakuye Oyasin: We are all related. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Marissa. Well, well said. We're privileged to have Regent John Bastian, who will bring you greetings from the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Thank you, President Nichols and good morning, everyone. It's an honor for me to join you this morning and greet you on behalf of the South Dakota Board of Regents. The board joins your families and friends in commending and congratulating you on your hard work in earning a university degree. Each of you have your own success story. You set a goal and you saw it through. Your time here was during the worst part of the pandemic. You continued your education but not without difficulty. Surviving newly created online learning, lockdowns, and periodic isolation. But today, you're embarking on a new adventure. Entering high school was new. Starting education at this university was new. And now, at graduation, you face new challenges. With a college degree, in addition to your expertise in your field, you are showing future employees that you can get to work on time. That you know how to prioritize your time and your tasks. That you have had tough assignments and completed them successfully, and when you don't know the answer, you know how to find the answer. You're leaving this university with a foundation of curiosity, creativity, and leadership skills. You will be problem-solvers. Critical-thinking will help you discern real problems from imaginary ones. And assist you in finding real solutions- solutions that matter. The Board also thanks your commitment to South Dakota public higher education. The state, the nation, and the world will benefit from the success that you had here. I would also like to recognize the parents, grandparents, and the family members- and there is a bunch of them here. Over these past years, you've given encouragement, moral support, and perhaps financial support. You helped your student through the tough times, and part of the degree that is earned today is yours as well. I also want to recognize the hard work and success that the faculty, the administration, and the leadership of President Nichols and her team. The faculty in particular are the heart and soul of the institution. No university is any better than it's faculty who encourage, cajole, and support students, and who convey the wonder of rigorous teaching and learning. A college degree is unique. It is one of the few things that once earned is never diminished and can never be taken away. 30, 40, 50 years from now, you will have the degree that you earned today. And most importantly, you'll be able to look back on the tangible and intangible awards that your degree, continued hard work, commitment to lifelong learning have bestowed. So it is indeed an honor for me to join you this morning. The poet Robert Frost once wrote that, "Home is the place where when you have to go their, they have to take you in." Soon you will be alumni, and please remember that Black Hills State University is home. You will always be welcomed when you return. A former member of the Board of Regents always referred to this part of the program as one that should have a short beginning, and short ending, and not too much in-between. So in that spirit, and with the authority invested in me by the constitution of the state of South Dakota, I delegate to president Nichols the authority to award degrees and diplomas with the attendant rights, privileges, and responsibilities. Thank you for the opportunity to join you this morning.

I am pleased to introduce the Black Hills State University commencement wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. David Berberick.

Thank you Dr. Berberick and wind ensemble. Black Hills State University has a long history of supporting our military. Before continuing our program, we would like to recognize all veterans, active service members, and their spouses for service to our nation. So I am going to ask if you would stand and be recognized and that includes- would all of our veterans in the crowd, in the student audience as well, would you stand. If you are active military also stand. Spouses, stand as well. We would like to recognize you. Thank you. Thank you for your service and thank you for being with us today. We extend a special welcome to each of you. Graduates, we are at a moment for which you have been preparing for the past 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 members of our audience. So if you're first in your family to attend college and graduate from college would you stand so we could give you a special congratulations. First generation, please stand.

Thank you and congratulations. A photographer from The Grad Team will be taking photos today, which we be available one week following the ceremony. The website is on the inside cover of your program. Family and friends of the graduates, as a courtesy to our students who are graduating as well as the people sitting near you, we would ask that you remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony. It is my pleasure to present Dr. Cynthia Anderson, interim Dean of the College of Business and Natural Sciences.

Graduates, please stand. President Nichols, I have the honor to present the class of 2022 on behalf of the faculty, I present them to you as fully qualified to receive their diplomas

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the South Dakota Board of Regents and upon recommendation of the faculty, I hereby confer upon you associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities pertaining thereto. You may be seated.

The first group of students who will be asked to come forward are graduating with master's degrees. They will be hooded as part of today's ceremony. Will the candidates for the master's degree please rise and come forward?

The next group of students who will be asked to come forward are graduating from the university honor program. They will receive a medallion symbolizing their distinction as honors scholars. Will you please rise and come forward?

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

At this time I would like to present Dr. Betsy Silva, Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

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.

At this time I would like to present Dr. Amy Fuqua, interim Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.

Will the first row of bachelor's degree candidates for the College of Liberal Arts please rise and come forward to receive your diplomas?

Will the candidates for the associate's degree please rise and come forward to receive your diplomas?

Would you help me in congratulating the graduates one more time? Academic traditions, such as the symbolism of the tassel are steeped in tradition. Moving the tassel to the left after graduating is symbolic of moving from college to another stage in your life. It is my privilege now, graduates, to ask you now to move your tassel from right to left. Congratulations. Here to bring you greetings from the alumni association is Miss Jodi Garcia. She serves as Black Hills State University Alumni Association President. Jodi.

Good morning graduates, friends, and family. As president of Black Hills State Alumni Association, I am excited to welcome this graduating class to our....

[Microphone cuts in slightly]...with the singing of our alma mater. The recession will follow immediately after. Please remain in the bleachers until graduates and faculty have exited. So I will ask you now to please stand and join us in singing our alma mater, which is printed in the back of your program.