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United States Congressman Dan Boren addressed more than 2,000 guests and graduates during the 96th Eastern Oklahoma State College spring commencement exercises 6:30 p.m. Friday (May 6) on the front lawn by the clock tower at the Wilburton campus.

Boren said as he began preparing his remarks that he was “humbled by the thought that I can’t recall a word that my commencement speaker said. My commencement speaker went on and on and on for almost an hour.

“The only problem was I had to spend the rest of the night with him. It was my dad,” the Congressman said drawing chuckles from the audience.

Boren’s father is former Oklahoma Governor, U.S. Senator and current President of Oklahoma University, David Boren.

Boren quickly became serious and told graduates that he realized that many seated before him would soon take off the hats they were wearing tonight and get jobs.

“We sometimes hear there is less opportunity out there than there once was,” he said.

“I don’t believe that for a minute. Opportunity is something that comes from within. Opportunity is always around. With luck, it may fall in our lap and sometimes we must look for opportunities.

“I do concede, however,” the Congressman said, “that our world is vastly more challenging than the world faced by any previous generation.

“But, it is not void of any opportunity.”

Boren said that continuing education was the key to “staying ahead of the pack.” He recognized that many of the graduates had recognized the need for continued education after entering the workforce and beginning families. Many he recognized as being first generation college graduates.

He said only 15.5 percent of Oklahoma’s population will graduate this year with a bachelors degree. Only 6 percent will graduate with an associate degree.

“Your degree is a milestone. But remember success doesn’t come overnight. It’s a work in progress. That’s where lifelong learning comes in. Continuing education is the key.

“We live in astonishing changing times. The world is increasingly interconnected. We already leave in a global community.

“Make learning a lifetime habit,” the Congressman said.

Boren was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives at age 29. He became one of the youngest state legislators to serve in 2002 and was selected by his Democratic colleagues to be Caucus Chairman making him the first freshman state lawmaker to ever receive this honor.

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District. Boren obtained a seat on the House Armed Services Committee as a freshman member of Congress. He also serves on the House Resources Committee, a panel which provides Congress with oversight into Indian affairs and public lands.

Boren addressed more than 300 Eastern spring graduates who are among 29,600 Oklahoma students from 25 state colleges and universities estimated to earn degrees this year. State graduation numbers are higher again this year by 1,600, up from 28,000 last year. Eastern’s spring graduation numbers are down slightly because a number of students attended December graduation ceremonies where 94 students were granted degrees.

During commencement, six students were named as Outstanding Divisional Graduates including: Erik Harris from Hartshorne, as Outstanding Graduate from the Division of Language and Communications; Carolyn Wigington, Wilburton, Nursing; Jerrod Lundry, Haworth, Agriculture; Daniel Vogt, Checota, Liberal Arts; Mandy Skimbo, Wilburton, Science and Mathematics and Cliffton Hill, Tushka, Business Division.

This academic year Eastern will have granted just over 400 degrees and certificates of completion not counting other agencies including the Department of Corrections Academy and the Oklahoma Miner Training Institute also located on the Wilburton campus. Eastern graduates will range in age from 19 to 57 this year.

State graduation numbers are based on a survey of Oklahoma higher education institutions. Official data for the 2004-2005 academic year will be available later.

According to Eastern Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Brad Rice,  the majority of students earning associate degrees from Eastern will be in the fields of agriculture, nursing and general studies which is a slight shift from last year with agriculture, criminal justice and general studies leading the fields.

Statewide, the most popular fields of study among the 8,400 students receiving two-year associate degrees are in nursing, business and general studies. An estimated 15,600 students will earn bachelor's degrees, 4,400 will earn master's degrees and some 400 students have earned doctoral degrees with another 875 students earning professional degrees in areas such as law and medicine.

If early estimates hold true, Oklahoma will have another record number of college graduates ready to enter the workforce this spring.

Eastern graduates represent 28 of Oklahoma's 77 counties, 6 different states and one foreign country.

One hundred five Eastern students received the Associate in Arts with 109 earning the Associate in Science, seven receiving the Associate in Applied Science in Agriculture, nine with the Associate in Applied Science in Business and 50 graduates received the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing. Five individuals earned an Associate in Applied Science Child Development with 13 students earning One Year Certificates in Child Development and one earning a one-year certificate in Meat Processing and Food Safety.

Eastern Oklahoma State College President Dr. Richard Bernard welcomes U.S. Congressman Dan Boren to the podium during the 96th annual commencement ceremonies held on the Wilburton campus. Boren addressed more than 2,000 guests and graduates during the Friday night event.

A list of graduates by degree/county follows:

ASSOCIATE IN ARTS
Pittsburg County
Christina M. Baker Hartshorne
Travis R. Bell Pittsburg
Jordan C.Bernhardt McAlester
Jessica Boyd McAlester
Christina L. Cannon McAlester
Tad A. Dalpoas Haileyville
Phillis J. Dew McAlester
Esther DiMaggio McAlester
LaRanda Dobbs Kiowa
Justin R. Faulkner Hartshorne
Amber D. Ford Krebs
Erik W. Harris Hartshorne
Scott Hartness Hartshorne
Trudy A. Hartness Hartshorne
LaDonna J. Hendrix McAlester
Melody S. Holt McAlester
Lola Hood Alderson
Matthew Hull McAlester
Laura J. Hunter Kiowa
Geina A. Motley Crowder
Audie J. Johnson Gowen
Rachel A. Johnson Gowen
James A. Jones Krebs
Jay D. Kilcrease Hartshorne
Connie M. Lester McAlester
Heidi Lobdell McAlester
Gari B. Maddux Hartshorne
Vanessa Miller Hartshorne
Lisa D. Ogden Quinton
Tonya d. Overton McAlester
Lauren J. Pickens Haileyville
Jennifer N. Reed McAlester
Kimberly D. Reich McAlester
Samantha C. Robertson McAlester
Valerie A. Rogers McAlester
Megan R. Rumsey Savannah
Shirlie A. Smith Haileyville
Shephanie A. Tillman McAlester
Justin M. Turney McAlester
Lori K. Wilcox Crowder
Amanda N. Williams Stuart
Regina K. Winfrey McAlester
Michael A. Wokaty Quinton

LeFlore County
David J. Bruesch Heavener
Jaclynne J. Caughern LeFlore
Regina K. Loyd Summerfield
Kendra Pickle Heavener

Latimer County
Heather A. Bambeck Wilburton
Amelia A. Benson Red Oak
Laci D. Bridges Wilburton
Wendy R. Dill Wilburton
Juliana Gomes Wilburton
Tommy D. Gonzalez, Sr. Wilburton
Tanya L. Ivey Wilburton
Skyla M. Knight Red Oak
Kumiko Kudo Wilburton
Kendra N. Langford Wilburton
Diamond A. Mills Wilburton
Shawnna Nixon Red Oak
Kevin Palacios Wilburton
Mikea R. Reed Red Oak
Sasha R. Rosales Wilburton
Tara Spears Wilburton
Alaina N. Spruell Wilburton
Mario D. Tayborn Wilburton
Kenji Urdaneta Wilburton
Richard Young Wilburton

McCurtain County
Regina K. Arnold Eagletown
Michael Battiest Broken Bow
Amanda A. Colson Idabel
Brandi L. Dean Wright City
Kasey B. Hall Haworth
Aspen Martinez Valliant
Leah Somers Haworth
Kathy Spalla Valliant
Erica Stovall Bethel
Christopher Strickland Valliant

Tulsa County
Michael D. Bippus Owasso
Derec L. Norman Tulsa

Pushmataha County
Richard L. Allen Oleta
Joshua J. Carper Antlers
Kelley L. Godsby Antlers
Mandy J. Hairrell Clayton
Jenna M. Smallwood Antlers

Choctaw County
Bryan K. Bacon Boswell
Malinda G. Thompson Hugo
Sequoyah County
Christina J. Bentley Muldrow

Carter County
Lionel D. Brown Ardmore

Atoka County
Frank J. Couch Jr. Stringtown

Payne County
Thomas W. Farrow Cushing

Haskell County
Andrea K. Oldham Stigler
Shane A. Sears Stigler
Kristina B. O’Neill Bokoshe

Lincoln County
Samantha J. Ross Prague

Dewey County
Brady L. Smith Leedey

McIntosh County
Daniel J. Vogt Checotah

Oklahoma County
Adrian M. Lillard Oklahoma City

Outside of Oklahoma
Ronald J. Ball Buena Park CA
Montgomery S. Green Krum, TX
Cari B. Hamilton Layton UT
Scott T. Judson Courtena BC
Daisuke Miyawaki Hiroshima Japan
Asami Nagao Tokyo Japan
David S. Newby Soldotna AR
Akiko Ogata Tokyo Japan

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE

Pittsburg County
Brody K. Brannon McAlester
Laurie D. Burke Hartshorne
Angelia Butterworth McAlester
Danielle L. Carey McAlester
Leslie P. Connor McAlester
Terra M. Ellis McAlester
Julie A. Faulkner McAlester
Ashley B. Gamble Kiowa
Albert L. Hamel McAlester
Angela R. Harrell Hartshorne
Leonard A. Howard Jr. Krebs
David R. Ivey Hartshorne
David M. Jones McAlester
Lisa M. Kaiser McAlester
Talllulah Kemp McAlester
Wanda J. Martin McAlester
Dana B. McCain Stuart
Lisa M. McCoy McAlester
Stephanie M. McMath McAlester
Christopher Mervyn Krebs
April Mordecai McAlester
Danniel B. Morgan McAlester
Christopher B. Moss McAlester
Ashly Neece Kiowa
Jeffrey S. Neece Kiowa
James D. Newman McAlester
Lindsey O’Kelley Hartshorne
Jayme M. Oliver Haileyville
Chris C. Parker McAlester
Shayne M. Pearce McAlester
Lori Peters McAlester
William E. Russell Hartshorne
Amelia Sparks McAlester
Jodi L. Spears McAlester
John D. Spears Hartshorne
Jayme L. Spruce McAlester
Kelley L. Suter Savanna
Michelle Whinery Krebs
Stacy L. Yells Eagle Hartshorne
Sunnie L. Zachary McAlester

Latimer County
Crystal R. Boddy Wilburton
Amy L. Johnston Wilburton
Lance G. Mathis Wilburton
Brooke A Miller Wilburton
Gregory L. Miller Wilburton
Lindy N. Morgan Red Oak
Janet Stahlman-Mote Wilburton
Joshua B. Plair Wilburton
Honey R. Raper Wilburton
Thomas Scott Red Oak
Mandy J. Skimbo Wilburton

LeFlore County
Shelly Cothran Shady Point
Paul R. Crase Bokoshe
Toni D. Dewitt Wister
Bill D. Glasco, Jr. Howe
Reese C. Hensley Heavener
Misty J. McFarland Bokoshe
Richard D. Medlock Talihina
Jessica L. Mode Howe
Blake E. O’Neill Bokoshe
James Richards Bokoshe
Heather R. Sears Talihina
Jonathan T. Walden LeFlore

Oklahoma County
Kristin M. Alsup Choctaw

Grady County
Kyle Barrington Alex
Jared L. Langford Ninnekah

Pushmataha County
Katie B. Briggs Antlers
Laura E. Duncan Tuskahoma
Lana J. Harmon Rattan
Jennifer L. Meshaya Tuskahoma
Jennifer L. Morgan Moyers
Amanda L. Smith Clayton

Potowatomie County
Kyle D. Bennett Earlsboro

McCurtain County
Chad S. Arnold Eagletown
Crystal A. Ashalintubbi Eagletown
Bradley Johnson Smithville
Casey Kelso Broken Bow
Jerrod S. Lundry Haworth
Caleb J. Martin McCurtain
Sky W. Storey Haworth
Shauna L. Williams Smithville
Twauna M. Williams Smithville

Atoka County
Cliffton J. Hill Atoka

Choctaw County
Kevin B. Gloyne Boswell
Jeffrey S. Payne Hugo
Jason P. Pollard Ft. Towson

Comanche County
Jaime L. Brown Elgin
Timothy G. Sullivan Lawton

Haskell County
Aaron E. Austin Stigler
Belinda J. Keith Stigler

Hughes County
Lindsey B. Davis Allen

Muskogee County
Kimberly D. Hunter Muskogee

Bryan County
Amber N. Hutchings Colbert
Erin F. Luke Calera
David C. Owen Caddo
Jody B. Wiginton Colbert

Adair County
Amanda J. Huval Stilwell

Rogers County
James M. Wilson Chelsea

Tulsa County
Rebecca L. Buirrea Tulsa
Rachel A. Christian Broken Arrow
Brandon H. Jordan Owasso
Alexander R. Oswald Broken Arrow
Bridgett M. Stewart Owasso

Woodward County
Kelley R. Johnson Woodward
Caddo County
Jessica M. Kodaseet Anadarko

Marshall County
Clinton C. Rushing Lebanon

Outside of Oklahoma
Jessica A. Groves Garland AR
Dillon R. Price Joshua, TX
Tori E. Vanderwagen Gallup, NM
ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

Atoka County
Adam L. Burleson Daisy

LeFlore County
Derrail W. Roland Shady Point

Latimer County
Sherry Picone Wilburton

Payne County
Kyle W. Devereaux Stillwater
Trent N. Gober Stillwater

Outside Oklahoma
Paul D. Dickens Thorndale, TX
Ty Nix Dangerfield, TX

ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE IN BUSINESS

Pittsburg County
Carmen F. Beers Hartshorne
Tammie C. Buie McAlester
Tassie E. Ellis Indianola
Alisha A. Harris Hartshorne
Lindsey R. King Hartshorne
Jimmy G. Nalley Pittsburg
Tammy A. Smith Haywood
Carol Trinidad McAlester

Pushmataha County
Nina M. Witt Clayton

ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Pittsburg County
Audie J. Johnson Gowen
Connie M. Lester McAlester
Kimberly D. Reich McAlester

LeFlore County
Virginia Rose Talihina
Cindy Sisk Talihina

ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE IN NURSING

McCurtain County
Shannon E. Adams Broken Bow
Ashley N. Beavers Haworth
Melinda Camp McCurtain
Barbara S. Jackson McCurtain
Jacquelyn Slaton Valliant
Raelyn M. Wake Idabel

Pittsburg County
Laurie E. Brown McAlester
Jennifer Drake Crowder
B. Keith Eldridge McAlester
Janna D. Kemp McAlester
Erika Ketchum McAlester
Valerie G. Mullins McAlester
Lindsey O’Kelley Hartshorne
Mandy Pollard McAlester
Laci R. Sewell Hartshorne
Amber L. Smith McAlester
Sandra Strain Quinton
Stephen R. Thompson Krebs
James M. Treiber Blocker
Lindsey D. Trover McAlester
Dayana Walker Hartshorne

Latimer County
Kelly R. Culberson Wilburton
Natalie A. Johnson Wilburton
Randy L. Scott Wilburton
Carolyn M. Wigington Wiburton

Choctaw County
Christina Burton Hugo
Sharon Carswell Hugo
Jolene Hammons Hugo
Janet S. Johnson Hugo
Christy Justice Hugo

Oklahoma County
Trey T. Doocy Edmond

Ottawa County
Maddona R. Hartman Miami

Haskell County
Whitney Rea Stigler
Daniel D. Schmitt Kinta

Atoka Couty
Paula K. Weathers Lane

Pushmataha County
Jennifer R. James Moyers
Debra A. Mahon Clayton
Christina Kibby Antlers

Outside Oklahoma
Tanya L. Carlile Texarkana, TX
Lynette Hughes Friendswood, TX
Brandy Johns Delkalb, TX
Rachel Matheson DeQueen, AR
Lana A. Puckett Clarksville, TX
Brandi Reavis Reno, TX
Amber Smith Bagwell, TX
Chrystal Smith Bagwell, TX
Velma Smith Bagwell, TX
Melody A. Willis Hooks, TX
Beth Winters Horatio, AR

MASTERY IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT –ONE-YEAR CERTIFICATE

Pittsburg County
Christina Baker Hartshorne
Kimmie Barlow McAlester
Esther Dimaggio McAlester
Jaime Emberton Haileyville
Rachel Johnson Gowen
Veverly Martin McAlester
Eloise A. Maxwell McAlester
Sandra Ryan McAlester
Amanda Williams Stuart

Latimer County
Viola Caudill Wilburton

McIntosh County
Deborah Deere Eufaula

Pushmataha County
Tammy Heflin Clayton

LeFlore County
Lynn Luce Heavener

MEAT PROCESSING & FOOD SAFETY-ONE-YEAR CERTIFICATE

Latimer County
Anthony Million Wilburton