(Music Playing) I am Jerlando Jackson, Dean of the College of Education.

Welcome to the spring 2025 commencement ceremony for the College of Education.

Please join me in singing America the Beautiful song by Amira Coleman, a graduate student in the College of Music, accompanied by the Michiga State University Symphony Band, conducted by Eugene Jones and composed by Samuel A.

Ward.

After singing.

Please remain standing, i able, for a moment of silence.

O beautiful for spacious skies For amber waves of grain For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain America America God shed His grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

From sea to shining sea.

Let us pause for a moment of silence and personal reflection.

To give thanks and to show our appreciatio to all who are assembled here, and to consider how we can liv our lives in a way that honors all Spartans, including those who are no longer with us.

Thank you.

Please be seated.

Today marks an important mileston in your education, and we share your pride as we celebrate your achievement next year.

Some of you have elected to enter graduate school, and many of you will embark on your first career experience.

Never have the fields of education and kinesiology been more exciting and challenging at the same time.

Your education has prepared you to meet these challenges and to view them as opportunities for making a difference in the lives of others.

The pas several years brought challenges that nobody could have foreseen.

We learned to be adaptable in every changing situation.

We've discovered new technologies and new ways to learn.

We appreciate it.

How to care for one another.

And most importantly, we realize that Spartans are resilient.

That is evident in the fact that we are all gathered here today to celebrate this incredible milestone.

You have all achieved.

We are confident that as you move to the next stage of your lives, you will hold on to what you have learned and bring honor to yourself and Michigan State University.

This weekend and next, 16 MSU colleges honor over 10,000 students who are graduating this spring or summer.

College of education students comprise a significant part of this student body at MSU.

However, each of you is important to this institution in ways that transcend the size of our graduating class.

We hono and celebrate your commitment, determination, and accomplishment.

This year, we have selected two graduating students to offer remark on behalf of the class of 2025.

I would first like to introduce Hannah Yoon.

An elementary education graduate from Rochester Hills, Michigan.

After graduation, she plans to become a kindergarten teacher.

This cap, sorry.

Okay.

Hello and good evening to my fellow graduates.

Faculty.

I'm going to take this off.

I'm sorry.

I. graduates, faculty, alumni and proud families.

My name is Hannah Yoon, and it is with utmost honor to be standing here today to represent the graduating class of the College of Education of 2025.

Before I begin, I would like to mention that this honor and dream would not be possible without my parents, who left everyone and everything they knew in Korea so that I could be standing here today.

(Spearking Korean).

Now.

What you just heard was spoken in Korean, so unless you speak the language, it would have sounded n different than background noise.

Now think about that noise and imagine being surrounded by it all day, every day.

As a firstborn of immigrant parents, my first language was Korean.

So o the first day of kindergarten, I walked in the classroom with three essential phrases to get me through.

They were.

Hi, my name is Hannah.

Please and thank you.

And I have to use the bathroom.

At first, English sounded like that same noise and seemed impossible to figure out.

However after a long year of hard work and practicing vowel sounds.

Slowly but surely I started to get the hang of it.

Fast forward to 2021, when I was first getting ready for college.

I was the first to attend university in the States with my family.

So navigating and preparing things I needed for my dorm or figuring out my essays portal was very challenging.

I'm sure you all remember that nerve wracking, yet exciting feeling of making sure that you were prepared fo the next chapter of your life.

Little did I know that it would.

This experience would b the best four years of my life.

I learned so much during my time here at MSU.

I remember the first tim I learned about combo exchanges and thought oh, here come the freshman 15.

Or when I found out during finals week, if you hear me screaming at midnight to not panic, but to join in and having snowball fights outside of dorms is a must to get used to three hour lectures because they aren't going away anytime soon.

I learned that a bad day can be cheered up with an ice cream run to the dairy store.

But most importantly, I learned the importance of learning.

For some of you, this past semester would have been the last time you entered a classroom.

Classrooms where we learned content and skills to prepare us for yet again, a new chapter in life.

Whether you are a kinesiology major or a student in the teacher prep program, I think I speak for everyone when I express how grateful we are for what we learned in the classroom, and perhaps even more substantially, what we learned outside of the classroom.

Now, in order to learn something, it means that there has to be someone or something that teaches yo whether that may be a teacher, a friend, a coach, or even a video.

Learning is never one sided.

What I realize is that we are all learners and teachers.

When I say you are all learners and teachers, it means everyone sitting in this room today.

The reality is, is that we will forever be learners and teachers, no matter where we are or who we become.

As a future teacher, I ask you to never forget what it's like to learn and to have confidenc in knowing that all of you can and will be teachers, teachers to your peers, your coworkers, your clients, and to your families.

With that being said, I wanted to share one o the biggest things I've learned.

This year I had the privilege of observing and teaching in a kindergarten classroom.

Well, I could talk about th great length of this experience.

This is a thing that stuck with me the most during my internship year.

Every day I walked into a classroom to see a picture fram with a quote by Robert Fulghum, a quote I wish to share with you all right now.

It is titled all I need to Know is What I learned in Kindergarten.

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own maps.

Don't take things that aren't your.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life.

Learn some and think some.

And draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work.

Every day.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the real world.

Watch out for traffic.

And it is still true.

No matter what, how old you are or when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

I want to end off by saying Spartans will stick together forever.

Be proud of being a Spartan no matter where you go.

And forever.

Go green.

Go White.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Hannah.

Our second speaker is Selena Sulaka.

A kinesiolog graduate from Shelby Township, Michigan, please.

She plans to attend medical school in the near future.

Good evening.

Esteemed board of trustees.

Member.

Honored deans.

Dedicated faculty.

Staff of the College of Education.

And, of course, students, parents, grandparents, and everyone currently checking their phones.

My name is Selena Sulaka, and it's truly an honor to stand before you today.

When I was chosen to be speaker, I was beyond grateful.

And yes, Mom and Dad.

Surprise!

I got the speech.

But let's be honest.

Writing it was no easy task.

How do you capture years of hard work, friendships, and unexpected challenges in just a few minutes?

How do you make people laugh, reflect and feel inspired all at once?

Well, I'm about to give it my best shot.

It feels like just yesterday we were watching seniors pose for photos outside the very dorms we once called home.

And now here we are doing the same.

But those photos don't just capture a moment.

They capture the transformation we undergone, especially in the classrooms and our field experiences.

And through every late night discussion where we questioned everything we knew about our education.

Today isn't just abou celebrating what we've learned.

It's about recognizin how MSU has shaped us as future educators, researchers, and advocates for change.

Our professors didn't just han out textbooks and wish us luck.

They challenged u to think beyond theory, to apply what we learned in ways that make a real difference.

Problem solving wasn't jus about finding the right answer.

It was about adjusting when things didn't go as planned, whether it was spending hours in study groups, tackling complex concepts, or facing an unexpected academic challenge.

We learned to think critically and adapt.

But let's be honest.

For many of us in kinesiology, it all started with kin.

173 foundations of Kinesiology.

Our very first class freshman year.

For many of us, it was supposed to be an introduction, right?

But somehow it turned into one of those classes that left everyon questioning their life choices.

At some point.

We laughed about it now, but at the time, those exams, memorizing every muscle group and wrapping our heads around exercise physiology felt never ending.

Looking back, it shaped what came next.

We didn't just get through it.

We grew from it.

For me, can 360 physical growth and motor behavior show me how movement science directly affects education and accessibility?

Studying how individuals with mobility limitations navigate learning environments made me realize the barriers they face daily.

It was one thing to learn about motor development theory, but another to see its real life implications in schools.

That experience reinforced my passion for improving accessibility, showing me that every day night study session in complex concept had a purpose.

And I know I' not alone in that realization.

Whether you studied elementary, secondary, or special education, each of you had your own defining moment the one where you saw your studies transform into something tangible, something that mattered as you stepped into classrooms and became teachers to the future generations.

But let's be real.

Our education at MS went beyond lectures and exams, teaching us lessons in unexpected ways.

We learned time management, not from a syllabus, but from juggling classes, student teaching jobs, and still making it to Crunchys for karaoke or one.

A simple chat with a professor led to an internship that shaped our future.

And of course, we can't forget about the lessons in adaptability.

Like the first tim we attempted to navigate Walls Hall and ended up in an entirely different building.

Or the winter mornings where we constantly thought we can walk it to make it to class without slipping on the ice, only to be humbled b the sidewalks of East Lansing.

Looking back, I don't regret knocking on every one of my neighbor's doors freshman year.

Stepping out of my comfort zone to build friendships that still last today.

Education taught us that learning isn't just about knowledge, it's about people.

We learn to collaborate, to support and to listen.

The friendships we made here were as much par of our education as our classes.

They shaped us with resilience, empathy, and a sense of community.

Qualities that will make u better in our careers and lives.

It all comes together in our journey to MSU, one full of growth change and countless memories.

Michigan State has given us more than just an education, has given us the ambition, drive and confidence to go out into the world and make a difference.

Whether in classrooms, clinics, research labs or beyond, we are prepared to apply what we've learned in ways that truly impact others.

Wherever life takes us, we will always be Spartans driven, determined and ready for what comes next.

Because if there's one thing we've learned here, it's that no obstacles too great, no goal is too ambitious, and no dream is out of reach.

Congratulations, class of 2025.

Go green.

Thank you Selena.

The MSU Symphony Band will no present a fantasy of MSU songs composed by James Kernow and conducted by Eugine Jones.

(Music Playing) Thank you, Mr. Jones and members of the MSU Symphony Band.

At this time, doctor Mark Largent, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, will recognize the Richard Lee Featherstone Endowed Prize recipient.

Good evening, family and friends, colleagues, faculty, staff and administrators.

And the graduates.

Graduates, I want to wish you a hearty round of congratulations from the office of the Provost.

I want to apologize for all th emails you've received for me.

You're done now.

So, I'd like you to take a moment and recognize that in a few moments, your relationshi with the university will change.

Up until now, your relationship has been temporary.

You have been a student.

It's a relationship that could have ended at any moment.

By your choice or by ours.

But over the course of your time here, you have completed the rigorous course of study to bring you to the chance to become a permanent alum.

That shift from the temporary relationship to the permanent one is really steeped in tradition and also meaning.

We are incredibly gratefu for what you've done and very, very proud of you and excited to see what comes next.

I have the honor this evening to present the Richard Lee Featherstone Endowed Priz is a prize that goes every year to an MSU graduating senior from any discipline who exhibits an open, curious and creative approach to education and ideas.

There is, according to the selection criteria, an evident intellectual ingenuity demonstrated exceptional character and leadership in furthering their progress b enriching the lives of others.

I love the Featherstone Prize.

I think it represents what many of us have come to think of as the best of MSU.

That is, we're didn't come here for ourselves.

We came here for each other, and we came here.

We came here with a notio that we would leave to do things for something bigger than ourselves.

The Featherstone Honors and, recognizes that it has a commitment to community service.

And the winners, when they're selected, receive a small grant to be used, according to the benefactor, for their future growth and development.

Anything from travel or graduate study or even just $4,000 to meditate for the summer.

Today's winner is among you.

we have 10,000 graduating students this weekend.

We had 88 students nominated by the faculty, and we interviewed eight of them.

And I am very pleased to tell you that this year's winner is Colby Orcutt.

Come on.

Colby explains that, her she's goin to join her family's business, which is the U.S. military.

And I know that Colby's family is here, and I bet they're front and center.

Where are they at?

Great.

In the front.

Where you would expect.

Both of her parents.

All three of her siblings even her boyfriend, are all U.S. military or U.S. military bound.

It is, customar to thank them for their service.

But as I have come to know Colby over the last several years, that I'm very lucky, the, Air Force and Army ROTC report to me.

So I get to know the cadets, especially their leaders.

as I have come to know her an I have met some of her family, thanking them for their service.

Seems kind of trite, because what they are and what they contribute to us is really quite amazing.

Don't ask Colby where she's from.

she moved 17 times before she came to MSU.

Her four years at MSU were the longest she's ever been anywhere.

She said, she had been to ten different schools before graduating high school and coming here.

Her major is kinesiology.

She, in addition to her work with the ROTC, was the team captain of the MSU women's varsity rowing team and the cadet wing commander.

So she's got three very different communities that she's contributed to during her time here.

In addition, off campus she is a pediatric and Picayune volunteer, at Sparrow Hospital and in fact, winning the distinguished Award for voluntee of the quarter this last spring.

She was a Rhodes Scholar finalist, an academic All-Big ten winner, a 2024 Scholar Athlete of the year for rowing, Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar, and in the ROTC, a four time National Defense Industrial Association Award winner and the Distinguished Graduate for the Air Force ROTC Field Training.

Her nominators describe her time in the Air Force ROTC, because that wa where the nomination came from as the detachments wing commander, which demanded hours of mentorship and guidance of her peers.

She consistently ranked at the top of her class, and was selected to represent the Air Force ROTC detachment of the MSU's Military Education Advisory Committee, which is where I first got to know her.

Colby has been accepted to her number one choice for medical school at the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine.

She says that her time at MSU has been so rich because MSU actively encouraged her to be able to balance the different spaces she wanted to participate.

She arrived at MSU as a Division one rower and an Air Force ROTC scholarship cadet, an Honors College student, and a pre-med student.

She lives, she says and we learned in our interviews with her by a commanding officers advice of see a need, feel the meet, fill the needs.

Excuse me, sitting next to her, I will tell you she's the first on to clap for her two colleagues.

it's really, really delightful to see someone who commits themselves to those around her.

Her studies, she said, ignited a passion for medicine, learning how scientific knowledg can be applied to improve lives.

I aspire, she says to protect our nation's warrior by providing high qualit and compassionate medical care to those who serve.

And I plan to work toward that goal in medical school in the fall.

Thank you Colby.

Thank you to her family and her colleagues who helped her get to this point.

Congratulations.

At this time, Doctor Christine Bowman, associate dean, will recognize those that receive the Board of Trustees Award.

And present Scholastic Achievement Award from the College of Education and recogniz graduates of the class of 2025.

Thank you, Dean Jackson.

We wish to pay tribute to graduates who not only completed their academic program successfully, but could have the distinction of having made the highest grade point average in the class, thereb clearing the board as a board.

To be eligible for this award.

Of the credit or the degree must be for the residents at Michigan State University.

The following students also have the highest grade point average in the College of Education.

Undergraduat majors of elementary education, kinesiology, and specialized Education, and in majors in the Secondary Education Program, thereby meriting the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.

Will the students who are present please stand if you are able and remain standing if you ar able, as your names are called and I request tha we all hold our applause until all of these amazing student are introduced alphabetically.

These students are Elena Borelli, special education, learning disabilities Brendan Burt, history, social studies, education Ella Davenport, elementary education.

Penny Devine, elementary education Nicole Data QC, kinesiology Aiden Ferris, history, social studies education Clara Fuller, music education Maya Garrison, kinesiology.

Kush Gupta, kinesiology Olivia Kaminsky, special education, learning disabilities Elizabeth Norris, elementary education Colby or Cut, kinesiology.

Lily Orris, elementary education.

Meat Patel, kinesiology Rachel Pung, English Alisa Scott, elementary education Adam Seeburg, history, social studies education Nathan Sprigg, kinesiology Megan Steffes, integrated science, secondary education.

Riley, Sara, elementary education Hayley Tate, elementary education Olivia Tua, English and Jade Vargo, elementary education.

Congratulations.

I will also note that this i the largest number of students we have ever had achieving those particular honors.

So we are especially proud of you all.

You may be seated if you're not already.

We also wish to recognize three other students receiving the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for having earned the highest grade point average in the College of Education undergraduate major of kinesiology.

Will the students who are present please stand if able and remain standing if able, as your names are called alphabetically.

These students are.

Morgan Adelani Abby Atkinson and David Noble.

Congratulations.

You may be seated.

Now, each of you should be proud of the outstanding academic record that honors you and your university.

On behalf of your classmates, the faculty, the officer and trustees of the university, I extend sincer congratulations and best wishes.

Please join me in applause for all class of 2025 Board of Trustees Award and Outstanding Academic Achievement Award recipients.

Now, as we all know, excelling in college is not just about grades.

Learning and personal development take many forms, so there are many other graduate that we want to recognize today.

We also wish to recognize members of Phi Epsilon Kappa and academic fraternity for kinesiology students who are wearing black and gold honor cords.

Please stand if you're able.

And members of Kappa Delta Pi, the education honorary who are wearing purple and green honor cords.

Please stand if you are able.

This includes.

This includes also degree candidates in Urban Educator cohort program UECP and Global Educators cohort program GEC wearing light blue honor towards will you stand if you are abl and let us recognize all of you.

You may be seated.

In recognition of Michigan State University's ongoing commitment to education abroad.

Graduate who participated in an education abroad program during their years at MSU are wearing blue and green honor cords.

Will all student who participated in an education abroad program please stand if you are able, so we may recognize you.

You may be seated.

Students who fulfilled requirements of the Honors College by completing enriched programs of study are wearing white stoles with the HSC designation.

Will all students graduatin as members of the Honors College please stand if abl and accept our congratulations to this.

You may be seated in recognition of the University's ongoing commitment to undergraduate research.

Will all students who participated in researc well at MSU please rise if able?

So we may recognize you.

Please remain standing if able.

If you presented your work at U Rath, we congratulate you.

You may be seated.

Well, all students who were active in a student organization during their time at MSU please rise if you were able, so we may recognize you.

You may be seated.

Students who attained grade point averages between 3.97 and 4.0 are awarded University high Honor.

University honor is awarded to students who have earned grade poin averages between 3.88 and 3.96.

Both of these honors are designated by Gold Honor Cords students that earned a 4.0 grade point average are designate by Green and Gold honor cords.

Will all students graduating with high honor or honor please stand if abl and accept our congratulations?

You may be seated.

Will all first generation students please stand if abl and accept our congratulations?

You may be seated and know that we are grateful that you selecte us, Michigan State University.

And we're proud of your achievements.

Finally, and I think most importantly, let's tal about the importance of service.

Don't ever forget that helping others is part of the Spartan tradition.

So will everyone who volunteered their time in an effort to help others during their years at MSU.

Please stand if you are able so we may honor you.

We are incredibly proud of your service, and we hope it will continue throughout the rest of your lives.

In the Spartan tradition.

You may be seated.

We commend all of you for your contributions.

Congratulations, graduates.

At thi time, we will honor the backyard degree recipients from the College of Education as they are presented by their departmental chairpersons, that the candidates for the Department of Teacher Education will be presented by Doctor Kristen Bieda, interi chairperson of the Department.

Okay, let me.

Will the candidates.

The extraordinary candidate from the Department of Teacher Education at both the elementary and secondary levels, including students from our Urban Education Cohort Program and Global Educators Cohort program.

Please rise if able.

Dean Jackson These candidates have completed all department and college requirements.

And on behalf of the faculty, I present them to you fo the awarding of their degrees.

Candidates please remain standing if able.

Thank you.

The candidates from the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education will be presented by Doctor Kui Xie chairperson of the Department.

Well, the candidates from the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, with majors in special education, please rise a table.

In Jackson, this candidates have completed all department and college requirements.

And on behalf of the faculty, I present them to you for the awarding of their degrees.

Candidates please remain standing if able.

Thank you.

The candidates from the Department of Kinesiology will be presented by Doctor Paddy Ekkekakis caucus chairperson of the Department.

Will the candidates from the Department of Kinesiology with majors in kinesiology.

Please rise if able.

Dean Jackson.

This candidates have completed all department and college requirements.

And on behalf of the faculty, I present them to you fo the awarding of their degrees.

Candidates please remain standing if able.

Thank you.

On behalf of the president, who has delegated to him the authority of the State of Michigan vested in a Board of trustees, I confer upon all of you the degrees for which you have been recommended.

With all the rights and distinctions to which they entitle you according to custom, you may now move your tassels from the right side of your caps.

To the left side, signifying that you have earned a bachelor degree.

Congratulations, MSU alumni.

Please be seated.

This act represents a great achievement and marks the beginning of a lifetime of dedicated service.

It is an achievement worthy of celebration.

And today, we applaud the fact that more than 400 men and women have completed the academic program of their choice in the College of Education.

We now welcome Jamie Paisley and Scott Pohl to the microphone to announce the names of the graduate as they receive their diplomas.

I ask that the new graduates be escorted to the platform to receive a token diploma.

Graduates should return to their seats after receiving their diplomas.

We ask the audience to be considerate and celebrate as the graduates names are read.

We want each graduate names to be heard.

So feel free to cheer loudly but briefly for a friend or family member.

Each graduating senior is a member of the Spartan family, and we hop you will show the same respect for the last graduate as you do for the first graduate.

Will the students on the platform please come forward now to begin the procession of the graduates?

(Conferral of Degrees, Reading Graduate Names) Outstanding.

The College of Education faculty members share in our celebration of these graduates.

The faculty's contribution to their success have been essential and a source of great pride to us.

College of education faculty members are deeply committed to contributing to their professions through research, service, and the preparation of future leaders.

The reputation of our college's faculty and programs has again been recognized in the recent release of the 2025 edition of U.S. News and World Report, ranking of graduate programs for the 31st consecutive year, our graduate programs in elementary and secondary education have been ranked number one in the nation.

In total, we have nine programs that are currently ranked in the annual publicatio of top programs and specialty.

Also, our kinesiology program is ranked number 11 in the nation.

We hope you share our pride in these rankings.

They reflect the dedication of our faculty, the quality of our programs, the support of our dedicated staff, and the achievement o our student and our graduates.

I hope you will appreciate the value added to your baccalaureate degree, because it was earned at an internationally prestigious university and a college of education with a consistently strong reputation.

Now, it is fitting that I ask thos representing the faculty to rise if you are able and accept our gratitude for your contributions to the education of our graduates, we appreciate your fine work.

Faculty Please rise if you are willing.

Thank you.

There is another group of individuals who have made important contribution to the success of our graduates.

Our advisors have guided and supported these graduates from summer orientation through our commencement ceremony today.

They have answered questions, they solve problems and been a source of encouragement.

When expectations seemed overwhelming or the right path was hard to find.

We have cheered our graduates a they develop from new freshmen on to the first time, to young adults ready to take their place in the world.

They have consistently assisted with our ceremony today, I ask the College of Education advisors to rise if able and be recognized for their important work.

And there is yet another important group of individuals who have contributed love, understanding and support, emotional as well as financial, and they share in the achievements we recognize today.

Accordingly, we ask the families of the graduates to rise, if able, and give us an opportunity to express our thanks and appreciation for you.

I also want to thank our readers, Jamie Paisley and Scott Pohl, and our captioner, Andrea Kleiber.

And a special thanks goes to Robin Linker for helping to coordinate this event.

Finally, the College of Education Alumni Board of Directors wishes to congratulate each of you.

We are confident that you take with you new perspectives and innovative ideas that will shape the society of tomorrow and contribute in meaningful ways to the learning and well-being of others.

And we want to hear all about it.

Let us know where life takes you via email, social media or the alumni website and we will celebrate with you.

Please consider donating your time and talent to the college.

The college's Alumni Board of Directors facilitates connections between alumni and current students through events, outreach, and scholarships.

We look forward to learning more about your interest and engaging with you in the future.

I now invite all of you to join in singing the alma mater, MSU shadow.

We will be accompanied by the MSU Symphony Band and Amira Coleman.

Guests may meet their graduates upstairs at the conclusion of the program.

MSU we love thy shadows When twilight silence falls Flushing deep and softly paling Oer ivy covered halls Beneath the pines well gather To give our faith so true Sing our love for Alma Mater And thy praises MSU.

(MSU Fight Song)