I GRADUATED!

Recently, on December 13th I graduated from Pittsburg State University with my Bachelor's Degree in Strategic Communication, and along with this huge milestone I was provided the opportunity to speak at all three commencement ceremonies including my own! Having this chance to speak at graduation is an incredible honor, and I dedicated this speech to my family and mentors who have supported me in my collegiate journey, but I also used this speech as a gift back to Pitt State for EVERYTHING it has given me.

As I reflect on my time as an undergraduate, I am truly overcome with gratitude for each experience, opportunity, and connection that came my way. I am so grateful for the administration I have worked alongside and learned from, I am thankful for my incredible mentors, professors, and advisors throughout Pitt State who gave me a chance and saw something in me, and most importantly I am grateful for the Lord who has been there for me through every step.

As most of you know, I changed my major after my freshman year from Nursing to Strategic Communication, and after many prayers and a 2-hour conversation with the one of a kind Kristen Livingston, Ed.D. and Gil Cooper , I realized quickly once my sophomore year began that I had made the right choice. My heart and passion are for serving those around me, and this program and university have shown me how many ways there are to do just that. From my 3 years as a resident assistant to 2 years as a summer orientation leader, to 2 years working under the President of the University, and even speaking in several courses and panels, I have seen what God can do with an enthusiastic, optimistic, extrovert, and turn her into the servant-hearted leader she has always prayed to be.

I really could speak for hours of all the PSU has done for me, but i think it can all be summed up with this: THANK YOU! Thank you for being the school I needed, thank you for taking a chance on a kid from Oklahoma, thank you for showing me what the world offers, and thank you for setting the standard for how to be truly servant-hearted.

Here are just a FEW of the amazing people and memories that have made an impact on me, excited to see what my last semester at Pitt while getting my Masters will bring!

Kristen Livingston, Ed.D. A. M. Mason Gil Cooper Kate Allred Tatum Ahring Jaime Dalton Jodeci Turner Kathleen Flannery Bethanne Elliott Danielle Driskill Jon Bartlow, Ph.D. Ashley Wadell Jesse Briscoe Kimberly Hull Bethany Foster Dr. Dan Shipp, Jamie Rink, Chris Hawk, Maria Thompson Howard Smith Megan Westhoff Lori Scott Dreiling