On December 16, over 1,700 Eastern Students celebrated the culmination of years of hard work with their friends, family and EMU faculty at the Convocation Center. In President Smith’s speech and letter in the Commencement program he commented “that no one reaches this milestone [graduation] alone,” and offered thanks to those who helped the graduates get to Commencement.
This Year’s Winter Commencement ceremony was something to be proud of not only by the graduates but the family, friends, and Emu faculty that helped them make it to graduation.
With their eyes looking towards their futures, the Graduates walked across the stage and collected their degrees and certificates. With 34 of the graduates receiving doctoral degrees in such subject’s philosophy, psychology, technology and educational leadership, They worked tremendously hard, long hours and all-nighters, to get to walk across the stage Saturday Morning.
Biology Major, and now an Emu Grad, Aliana Stacey commented “I want to keep learning and have enjoyed the experiences educating and sharing the experiences with others."
The commencement speaker Vice President and Legal and Chief Officer at DTE Energy, JoAnn Chávez, spoke of the many opportunities which await the new graduates. Chávez made a point that to be successful, you do not have to lose yourself in the process.
She went on to say, “Seize opportunities. Opportunities don’t require assimilation, opportunities don’t require us to deny our roots.”
With over 165,000 alums in various states and countries around the world the reach of the EMU family extends from our campus in Ypsilanti Michigan.
When asked what it means to be TRUEMU, Grad Jacob Aulissa perfectly summed it up in saying, “It means I am part of the EMU family. I honor them and they will be there and honor me.”
With green and white in their hearts on Saturday, the Graduates left Eastern Michigan University to pursue great opportunities, having accomplished so much to walk across the stage. Now Alumni and forevermore part of the EMU family.
Congratulations Class 0f 2017!
