Chancellor Speaks To Capacity Crowd During 98th Commencement
(Press Release 05-05-07)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

“The word commencement means to begin,” Oklahoma Chancellor of Higher Education Dr. Glen D. Johnson told the 98th Eastern Oklahoma State College spring graduating class Friday (May 4) in a standing room only Field House on the Wilburton campus.

“Your friends and family are here to see you succeed,” he told the graduates.

“Over the last 10 years the competition has changed greatly,” the Chancellor said.

“You no longer compete with Texas . . . It’s Japan, China and India. . . We can’t afford to fall behind the curve.

“I want to encourage you not to be afraid to take risks as you move forward. I also want to encourage you not to be foolhardy as you take risks. But, you must sometimes step out of that safe harbor on occasion as you move forward.”

This was the second time Johnson addressed an Eastern commencement. He first spoke to Eastern graduates in 1991 as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Johnson became the eighth Chancellor of the Oklahoma state system of higher education in January 2007 after a national search. Before assuming the role of chancellor, Johnson served as the 16th president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant for ten years.

Johnson served as Director of Public Policy and Professor of Law at the University of Oklahoma, College of Law. Prior to his work at the University of Oklahoma He served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives form 1982 until 1996 and was Speaker of the House from 1990 until 1996. At the time of his election as Speaker, he was the youngest sitting Speaker in the United States.

He holds memberships in numerous professional, state and national organizations and has been the recipient of many awards and honors during his career. He is an honors graduate of the University of Oklahoma, with an undergraduate degree in political science and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Oklahoma’s College of Law.

Johnson is the son of former United States Congressman Glen D. Johnson, Sr., and Imogene Johnson. He was born in Oklahoma City, attended grade school in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Muskogee High School in 1972.

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

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education estimates that approximately 30,800 students will earn degrees during the 2006–07 academic year at Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities.

Of those 30,800 graduates, more than half will receive bachelor’s degrees. The most popular fields of study among the estimated 16,700 students receiving bachelor’s degrees are business and education.

Nursing, business and general studies are the programs most frequently selected by the estimated 8,600 students earning associate degrees.

An estimated 4,100 students will receive master’s degrees in a variety of fields, most notably in education, counseling and business.

Estimates show that 500 students will earn doctoral degrees, while 900 others will receive professional degrees in areas such as law and medicine.

Johnson addressed more than 298 Eastern spring graduates who are among 30,800 Oklahoma students from 25 state colleges and universities estimated to earn degrees this year.

This academic year Eastern will have granted just over 315 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.

According to Eastern Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Mary Edith Butler, the majority of students earning associate degrees from Eastern are in the fields of general studies, agriculture and nursing.

Eastern graduates represent 29 of Oklahoma's 77 counties, 4 different states and three foreign countries.

One hundred twenty-two Eastern students received the Associate in Arts with 123 earning the Associate in Science. Forty-four graduates received the Associate in Applied Science with 9 students earning One Year Certificates in Child Development.

A list of graduates by degree, county and town follows:

ASSOCIATE IN ARTS

Pittsburg County
Amanda Baker, McAlester
Jeffrey Bedford, Haileyville
Jessica Boyd, McAlester
Donnalee Calhoun, McAlester
Cambria Cloud, Quinton
Billi Coffman, McAlester
Amber Ford, Krebs
Kyleigh Gray, McAlester
Elizabeth Griffith, McAlester
Shawna Hacker, McAlester
Hollye Jernigan,  McAlester
William Jernigan, McAlester
Ronald Jordan, Quinton
Sharron Lalli, McAlester
Krislyn Lindsey, McAlester
Regina Luper, McAlester
Danielle Meza, McAlester
Tiffany Moore, Hartshorne
Tonya Mullins, Krebs
Shari Murrin, Krebs
James Neill, Canadian
Jenneffer Parker, McAlester
Alice Pearson, McAlester
Donald Porter, Hartshorne
Crystal Randazzo, McAlester
Tracy Russell, Hartshorne
Melinda Sandefur, Hartshorne
Twylia Sherrill, McAlester
Tammy Sims, McAlester
Grayson Smedley, McAlester
Lester Smith, McAlester
Hannah Snow, McAlester
Sandra Tegue, McAlester
James Toburen, McAlester
Karen Vieu, McAlester
Angela White, McAlester
Jami M. Williams, Quinton
Chelsea Williamson, McAlester
Tamara Willis, McAlester

Latimer County
Veronica Allen, Wilburton
Mariah Angel, Wilburton
Cynthia Ashby, Wilburton
Teresa Autry, Wilburton
Amber Barker, Wilburton
Yesi Castillo, Wilburton
Tiffany Conley, Wilburton
Crystal Crosby, Wilburton
Penny Donoley, Wilburton
Brian Duncan, Wilburton
James England, Talihina
Mysona Gray, Wilburton
Tetsuya Iwata, Wilburton
Teresa Ketcher, Wilburton
Kyle Littlejohn, Wilburton
Angela Miller, Wilburton
Carla Perovich, Wilburton
Keith Pope, Talihina
Lori Ryles, Red Oak
Courtney Trent, Wilburton
Hironobu Yamaguchi, Wilburton
Tabitha Zurocvetz, Wilburton

McCurtain County
Telisha Allen, Garvin
Lindsay Clampet, Idabel
Lorri Davis, Haworth
Lisa Evans, Broken Bow
Cynthia Ezell, Haworth
Jewelene Forrest, Broken Bow
Leslie King, Broken Bow
Carrie Luttrell, Broken Bow
Shelby Routh, Broken Bow

Johnston County
Linzy Officer, Ravia

Tulsa County
Derek Edwards, Broken Arrow
Rhonda McClung, Broken Arrow
Amy Tice, Owasso

Bryan County
Amberly Cross, Calera

Blaine County
Sheena Gaines, Canton

Cleveland County
Caitlyn Crotty, Norman

Canadian County
Jaclyn Mullaney, El Reno

Choctaw County
Hilary Hickman, Hugo
Karen Hunt, Ft. Towson

Comanche County
Melissa Simms, Elgin

Grady County
Jandi Haskell, Ninnekah
Blake Mounce, Tuttle 

Hughes County
Krystle Countz, Stuart
Jennifer Lockhart, Wetumka
Karen Peters, Stuart
Travis Tyra, Wetumka

Lincoln County
Kohei Tosa, Meeker

McIntosh County
Cassie Bascue, Eufaula
Deborah Deere, Eufaula

Oklahoma County
Austin Baker, Oklahoma City
James Coates, Oklahoma City
Jamel Grant, Oklahoma City
Hiroko Ito, Edmond

Pushmataha County
Janette Henry, Clayton
Kristy Crossey, Clayton
Brittany Hammon, Clayton
Krystal Mathews, Tuskahoma
Jimmy Nabors, Antlers
Levi Robbins, Tuskahoma
Adam Shaw, Tuskahoma

Outside of Oklahoma
Ayumi Arita, Japan
Larry Franklin, Ft. Worth, TX
Marie Hashimoto, Japan
Takahir Hoshi, Fukushina
Naomi Kasagami, Japan
Michael Land, Raleigh, NC
Abe Marumi, Japan
Courtney Meers, Conway, AR
Hiromi Mochizuki, Japan
Janise Myles, Sweeny, TX
Eitaro Miyagi, Japan
Horomi Mochizuki, Japan
Aya Murayama, Japan
Aya Naito, Japan
Tomomi Nakagawa, Japan
Ryuji Ohata, Japan
Ayumi Ono, Japan
Yoshihiro Oshmia, Japan
Chad Price, Denison, TX
Kevin Whyte, Ontario, Canada
Jenny Worthington, Denison, TX
Yusuke Takei, Japan
Yasutaka Deura, Japan

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE

Pittsburg County
Rena Barlow, McAlester
Raymond Bettinger, McAlester
Ashlee Burgett, Kiowa
Verna Caudill, Pittsburg
Ashley Compton, McAlester
Angela Cooley, McAlester
Randy Day, Hartshorne
Tresa Denney, McAlester
Debra Ellis, Blanco
Jeremy Fite, McAlester
N. E. Forrest, Savanna
Katie Guess, Quinton
Maranda Hancock, McAlester
Cynthia Henry, McAlester
Charity Johnson, McAlester
Joshua Johnson, McAlester
Julia Johnson, Hartshorne
David Layton, Kiowa
Bessie Long, Krebs
Rhonda Maness, McAlester
Nicholas Mattioda, McAlester
Danny McHenry, Alderson
Tyreese McIntosh, McAlester
Freedom Medina, McAlester
Angela Meek, Alderson
Lamar  Price, McAlester
Krista Rowland, Crowder
Robert Russell, McAlester
Colt Sanders, McAlester
Amber Shelton, Quinton
Kimberly Simpson, Quinton
Darrell Stachmus, McAlester
Cherish Timmons, Hartshorne
Amber Trimm, McAlester
Christopher Van Horn, McAlester
Levi Wagoner, Krebs
Ricky Wall, McAlester
Diane M. Wand, McAlester
Brandon Wansick, McAlester
Jennifer Willis, McAlester

Latimer County
Stephens Brenlee, Wilburton
Nadia Brigita, Talihina
Kayla Campbell, Wilburton
Michael Campbell, Wilburton
Britteney Cook, Wilburton
Cynthia Deela, Wilburton
Curtis Dunagan, Wilburton
Ryan England, Wilburton
Christopher Ford, Wilburton
Jimmy Gammons, Wilburton
Mark Hampton, Wilburton
Jeffrey Latt, Wilburton
Cody Kennedy, Talihina
Justin Kennedy, Talihina
Niesa Lopez, Wilburton
Justin Lowder, Wilburton
Charles Miller, Wilburton
Devin Mooney, Wilburton
Trevor Mullins, Wilburton
Kyle Price, Talihina
Neva-Runyon-Gomez, Wilburton
Brent Shouse, Wilburton
Ashley Whitehead, Wilburton

LeFlore County
Aaron Brewer, Wister
Stefan Caldwell, Poteau
Cortney Loyd, Wister
Jennifer Robertson, Fanshawe
Jerod Rose, Whitesboro
Wade Spencer, Heavener
Nathan Stepp, Bokoshe
Byron Walden, LeFlore

Pushmataha County
Tony Buchanan, Tuskahoma
Daniel Pace, Antlers

McCurtain County
Felisha Lester, Idabel
Brittany Schoolcraft, Broken Bow
Gregory Willie II, Idabel
Sheila James, Valliant
Derek Kelso, Broken Bow

Bryan County
Josh Rorex, Durant
Cori Schnider, Bokchito
Emily Tietz, Durant

Hughes County
Deborah Akin, Holdenville
Brian Iker, Calvin
Kendale Fields, Wetumka
David Lening, Wetumka
Loretha Sweetin, Stuart

Haskell County
Julie Davenport, Stigler
Waylon Ford, Kinta
Tiffany Hatfield, Stigler

McIntosh County
Leane Coppick ,Eufaula
Raymond Fells, Eufaula
Robert Roberts, Eufaula

Adair County
Jeremy Eubanks ,Stilwell
Craig Longshore ,Stilwell
Brooke Ross, Stilwell

Canadian County
Samuel Peterman, El Reno

Cherokee County
Justin Cantrell, Park Hill

Cleveland County
Catlin Ahtone, Newalla

Garvin County
Jesse Gosnell, Lindsey

Grady County
Brendon Lowe, Chickasha

Lincoln County
Lauren Hubbard, Agra

Okfuskee County
Rodney Bencoma, Weleetka
William Bencoma, Weleetka

Oklahoma County
Royce Beams, Choctaw

Okmulgee County
Amanda Wingo, Henryetta

Pontotoc County
Destiny Cookson, Ada

Seminole County
Michael Patton, Wewoka

Tulsa County
Justin Mitchell, Broken Arrow
Michael Lamb, Bixby
Kristi Stout, Tulsa

Outside of Oklahoma
Hirali Garcia, Ontario Canada
Elizabeth Cahill, Carrollton, TX
James Coffey, Prairie Grove, AR
Kathryn Fields, Mount Pleasant, TX
Justin Green, Pleasant Plains, AR
Jordan McDaniel, El Dorado, AR
Wesley Pool, Denison, TX
Ryan Skiles, Vilonia, AR
Didik Suprriyadi, Indonesia
Candace Sutter, Pleasant Plains, AR
Rani Tjugito, Indonesia

ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE

McCurtain County
Cassie Davis, Valliant
Larisa Johnson, Broken Bow
Donna Kizer, Idabel
James Smith Jr., Broken Bow

Pittsburg County
Charles Baker, McAlester
Lisa Burgett, Kiowa
Yvonne Brown, McAlester
Tameca Conn, Mcalester
Sharla Covey, Haileyville
Scott Kampas, McAlester
Kimberly Kaiser, McAlester
Alice McCann, McAlester
Tammy Riggs, McAlester
Kristy Roe, Krebs
Joy Rounds, McAlester
Ivora Sensibaugh, Haileyville
Leslie Sutherland, McAlester
Tezerah Upton, McAlester

Latimer County
Amber Arnold, Talihina
Michael Constancio, Wilburton
Lanita Martin, Wilburton
Teresa Monson, Wilburton
Christie Paxton, Wilburton
Barbara Perceful, Wilburton
Kassandra Poe, Talihina
Toni Ricks, Red Oak
Pam Spalitta, Talihina

McCurtain County
Larisa Johnson, Broken Bow
Donna Kizer, Valliant
Debra Miller, Broken Bow
James Smith Jr., Broken Bow

Johnston County
Christina Varnell, Tishomingo

LeFlore County
Misty Linton, Panama
Kristin Sanders, Poteau
Becky Sommers, Bokoshe

Pushmataha County
Gavin Savage, Finley

Choctaw County
LaTrisha Arnold, Hugo
Gwen Chandler, Boswell
Jennifer Gillespie, Sawyer

Outside Oklahoma
Bonita Copeland, Lockesburg, AR
Nelda Curry, Mena, AR
Joanna Lenardo, Van Cleave, MS
Carrie Martz, Horatio, AR
Amanda Pannell, Wickes, AR
Josie Robison, Grandview, TX
Lamystia Simpson, Clarksville, TX

CHILD DEVELOPMENT –ONE-YEAR CERTIFICATE

Pittsburg County
Judy Gray, Krebs
Linda Hutchison, McAlester
Emily Lalli, McAlester
Valerie Lalli, McAlester
Alice Pearson, McAlester
Renee Staples, McAlester
Tamara Willis, McAlester

Latimer County
Amanda Barker, Wilburton
Penny Donoley, Wilburton