Science professor Larry Baker was recognized Saturday
with the Glenville State College Faculty Award of Excellence.
Pictured from the left are GSC president Dr. Peter B. Barr
who presented the award, Baker, and Sue Morris, Chairman
of the Board of Governors, looks on from the background.
Story and Photos by Drew Moody
Graduations and the typical celebration of
New Year's share several common themes including
acknowledging transitions and new beginnings.
It signals an end as well. While some will continue
their education pursuing advanced degrees, most will
likely enter the workforce.
They'll be leaving the relatively insulated world of higher
education and step into a very different reality...the
workplace. Depending on a myriad of factors, often
failing logic, those steps can be challenging.
Too often the ideals embraced in college aren't
fashionable at work, or politics and personalities
unnecessarily interrupt the work flow.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Speaking of politics, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, III, D-WV,
gave Glenville State College's 138th commencement address
Saturday morning.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, III, was ready to enter the
gym when a family called out wanting to say hello. He
immediately turned and greeted them, as he did with many
others during his stay in Glenville. Manchin's close to his
West Virginia roots and shared some of his personal history
in the Mountain State with the 2012 graduating class.
He seems to be the kind of man it would be hard not to like,
who happens to be a politician. On his way from the president's
home to the gymnasium, where the ceremonies were held, he
stopped and visited with everyone who spoke to him.
As a distant observer, Senator Manchin always seems upbeat
and positive. He has a style that makes everything look "easy,"
as if it was.
And he was Saturday too, despite being skewered in
the pages of The Charleston Gazette, whose writers are upset
at what they perceive as waffling on the issue of whether he'll
support President Obama's re-election bid.
One Gazette writer was kind enough to mention Senator Manchin
was the most popular governor in the history of the State, so
that tempered their criticism.
Manchin gave an upbeat address, with cautionary warnings
about the future, along with some good advice.
"Can you correct the mistakes you make in your life," he asked
the graduates?
Life, he told the audience, is about making an ongoing corrections
to stay true to the 'inner compass' and not allow mistakes to
"get out of hand."
"There's a correction coming to the United States...whether we
like it or not," Manchin said. The current debt-load the government
has created will force change.
Never straying far from his West Virginia roots suggested our
well-being as a country is potentially at risk. He recalled what
his grandfather said, "Life is like a bag...you can't take out more
than you put in."
He cited several other challenges facing the United States including
terrorism, U.S. companies hiding profits overseas, tax policies favoring
the wealthy, and our future dealings with Iran, Pakistan, North Korea,
and China...to name a few.
The two biggest risks, in Manchin's opinion are continuing to fail
to pay down the national debt, and not stepping up competing
educationally with our peers on the world stage.
In concluding Senator Manchin professed his confidence the United
States will continue to be the greatest nation in the world. "Today is
your day," he said, "Your life is in front of you ... congratulations."
AWARDS AND BY THE NUMBERS
Honorary Doctorates of Public Service were presented to
Senator Manchin and WV Senator Doug Facemire, D-District 12,
Braxton County.
The Faculty Award of Excellence was presented to Larry Baker,
of Calhoun County; Dustin Crutchfield was named 'Classified
Employee of the Year, and Marlon Henry was given the Student
Leadership Award.
Former GSC Homecoming Queen Kristy Ann Arringon (left) of Orlando, FL, chats on her cell phone while she and other graduates wait to enter the college gymnasium Saturday morning.
A total of 63 students graduated with two-year associate
degrees, most majoring in business. Eighteen received forestry/land surveying degrees; 13 were awarded criminal justice
degrees. Only two of those graduating with two-year degrees
were out-of-state students.
For anyone thinking the profession of teaching was going out
of style ... that's certainly not the case at Glenville State
College where the majority of graduates are prepared to become
school teachers.
Of the 157 four-year degree diploma recipients 38 received
teaching credentials. Eighty-six percent of the B.A./B.S.
4-year degree graduates hail from West Virginia.
Perhaps setting a new record at GSC, 25 graduated with a
"Regents B.A." with is a general liberal arts degree with no
specialization. Twenty walked across the stage to get degrees
in psychology/sociology, 16 majored in natural resources
management, and 9 were criminal justice majors.
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