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Speakers acknowledge hard work, balancing act
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| H&N photos by Andrew Mariman Stacey Fiegi chokes up with emotion as she blows a kiss to the crowd while being acknowledged for her achievements prior to receiving her diploma Saturday at OIT’s graduation. |
June 17, 2007
Balancing school and family has been a rocky road for some Oregon Institute of Technology graduates, but it appears they have succeeded in both.
About 300 graduates donned a blue or black robe on Saturday for the 2007 commencement ceremony at OIT, the culmination of years of studying. Their proud families crowded the John F. Moehl Stadium waiting for the 59th ceremony to end so they could greet graduates with balloons and flowers.
“All of you had a lot to do with the success of the graduates here today,” said Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner as he thanked the families, neighbors and friends of the graduates.
He also thanked all 661 graduating students for their hard work, ideas, engagement and tuition.
Now, the graduates will take jobs and start paying state tax revenue, he said.
Serious note
Despite the jokes and flying beach ball in the graduates’ seating area, all were serious with the mention of the school’s president, Martha Anne Dow, who is undergoing breast cancer treatment.
“She is fighting hard and doing well,” said Dr. Peter Kohler, president emeritus of Oregon Health and Science University. He relayed a story about how happy she was when she realized that an X-ray technician helping her in the intensive care unit was an OIT graduate.
“OIT graduates are highly regarded and in high demand,” Kohler said.
They also are paving the way into the world of technology, he said, noting one OIT graduate invented a breathing tube for infants.
“Technology needs to come to the rescue,” he said.
OIT is on the leading edge for technology in health care.
“That’s where everything is headed, toward technology,” said graduate Ana Lyman, as she held her 1-month-old son.
The medical imaging student said her son was good to her while she took classes.
“He was a good pregnancy,” she said.
She is going to take some time with her son, then see what happens, she said.
Her husband, Tyler Lyman, said it’s been pretty easy balancing his wife’s school and their family. He said it was a fun ride and well worth it.
Juggling home and school
Another student honored Saturday was Stacey Fiegi, a mother of three who juggled school and family with work in the public library.
While honoring her, OIT Provost and acting president Dave Woodall quoted Fiegi’s husband as being in awe of her.
Fiegi stopped her tears with a tissue, but was all smiles as she received her diploma.
“It’s hard to find that balance between school and the rest of our lives,” said applied psychology graduate Jeanine Joe, the commencement speaker.
She was chosen as the speaker because she is a nontraditional student with three children and the recipient of her department’s outstanding scholar award.
The next tough life question is determining whether to move, immediately take a job or enter graduate school, she said.
Most students put aside those questions for the day to revel in their accomplishments and celebrate their achievements with their families, friends, fellow students and teachers.
- By Megan Doyle
Balancing school and family has been a rocky road for some Oregon Institute of Technology graduates, but it appears they have succeeded in both.
About 300 graduates donned a blue or black robe on Saturday for the 2007 commencement ceremony at OIT, the culmination of years of studying. Their proud families crowded the John F. Moehl Stadium waiting for the 59th ceremony to end so they could greet graduates with balloons and flowers.
“All of you had a lot to do with the success of the graduates here today,” said Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner as he thanked the families, neighbors and friends of the graduates.
He also thanked all 661 graduating students for their hard work, ideas, engagement and tuition.
Now, the graduates will take jobs and start paying state tax revenue, he said.
Serious note
Despite the jokes and flying beach ball in the graduates’ seating area, all were serious with the mention of the school’s president, Martha Anne Dow, who is undergoing breast cancer treatment.
“She is fighting hard and doing well,” said Dr. Peter Kohler, president emeritus of Oregon Health and Science University. He relayed a story about how happy she was when she realized that an X-ray technician helping her in the intensive care unit was an OIT graduate.
“OIT graduates are highly regarded and in high demand,” Kohler said.
They also are paving the way into the world of technology, he said, noting one OIT graduate invented a breathing tube for infants.
“Technology needs to come to the rescue,” he said.
OIT is on the leading edge for technology in health care.
“That’s where everything is headed, toward technology,” said graduate Ana Lyman, as she held her 1-month-old son.
The medical imaging student said her son was good to her while she took classes.
“He was a good pregnancy,” she said.
She is going to take some time with her son, then see what happens, she said.
Her husband, Tyler Lyman, said it’s been pretty easy balancing his wife’s school and their family. He said it was a fun ride and well worth it.
Juggling home and school
Another student honored Saturday was Stacey Fiegi, a mother of three who juggled school and family with work in the public library.
While honoring her, OIT Provost and acting president Dave Woodall quoted Fiegi’s husband as being in awe of her.
Fiegi stopped her tears with a tissue, but was all smiles as she received her diploma.
“It’s hard to find that balance between school and the rest of our lives,” said applied psychology graduate Jeanine Joe, the commencement speaker.
She was chosen as the speaker because she is a nontraditional student with three children and the recipient of her department’s outstanding scholar award.
The next tough life question is determining whether to move, immediately take a job or enter graduate school, she said.
Most students put aside those questions for the day to revel in their accomplishments and celebrate their achievements with their families, friends, fellow students and teachers.
- By Megan Doyle
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