Morehead State University honored nearly 650 degree candidates at its fall commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Academic-Athletic Center. (View photo gallery)
There were smiles, cheers and lots of photographs taken as the newest alumni took the ceremonial walk across the stage, signifying the completion of their college degrees. They were greeted by MSU President Wayne D. Andrews who offered a congratulatory handshake to each of those completing graduate and undergraduate degree requirements.
Amy Lane Storner of Lexington was the student speaker.
The daughter of Debby Griffin and John Storner, she is the mother of two children, Quinton Anthony Storner, 12, and Peyton Camille Piersawl, 5.
Storner is a candidate for a bachelor’s degree in social work.
She began attending MSU in 2010 as a transfer student from Eastern Kentucky University, 11 years after graduating from Lafayette Senior High School.
While attending Morehead State, Storner maintained a 4.0 grade-point-average and been selected for the dean’s list nine consecutive semesters.
She was awarded a Morehead State University Foundation Scholarship and selected for membership in the Social Work Honor Society.
“When I first began my journey at Morehead State University, I started at the regional campus in Mount Sterling. A full 11 years after high school graduation, several jobs, and two children later, I was not certain what I wanted to major in, unsure of the exact career path I wanted to take, and definitely no inkling as to how I was going to make it through school. From my very first day in Mount Sterling to my very last, here on campus, I have gained so much more than just knowledge at Morehead State. I have gained valuable skills that have helped me get to the point I am today, as well as to help me with my future professional and personal endeavors,” Storner told the crowd.
She concluded:
“I leave Morehead State University with much more than just a degree. I am leaving with awareness, understanding, and experience that no one can ever take away from me. I am leaving with a sense of pride that I achieved my dream. I leave with a sense of accomplishment knowing that as much as I doubted myself along the way, I did it. I’m here. I leave with friendships that will last a lifetime, mentors that I can reach out to, and memories that will stay with me forever.”
James H. Booth and Linda D. Booth were presented honorary degrees during the ceremony.
Mr. Booth received a Doctor of Business degree while a Doctor of Public Service degree was awarded to Mrs. Booth.
A longtime member of the Morehead State University Board of Regents and former chair, Jim Booth is a successful entrepreneur in the retail business and the coal industry. He has been in the mining industry for more than 40 years, cultivating a small contract mining company in 1975 into a $750 million annualized revenue coal producing and retail marketing entity. Through his coal and retail businesses, Mr. Booth has created more than 2,000 jobs for the region.
Jim Booth believes in education and serves students in the state and region through his commitment to higher education. In addition to providing leadership at MSU, he also serves on the University of Kentucky and the University of Pikeville Board of Trustees.
Mr. Booth received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Morehead State.
For more than 30 years, Linda Booth has developed and managed specialty retail businesses and has been successful in commercial and residential interior design, including franchised hotels through Interstate Lodging Inc. based in Lovely.
Her expertise in the industry also includes renovations of high value residential homes and interior design for commercial office spaces.
In 1998, Mrs. Booth established and designed Miss Ida’s Tea Room in Inez where she manages daily operations including catering and developing new menu and food programs. She also is an MSU alumnus.
For the commencement exercises, the grand marshal and mace bearer was Dr. Ric Caric, professor of international and interdisciplinary studies, who received the 2013 Distinguished Teacher Award.
Faculty marshals were Dr. Frances L. Helphinstine, professor of English, and Dr. Dora Ahmadi, chair of the Department of Mathematics, Computer Sciences and Physics.
Student marshals were Sean Corbin and Jennifer Downey, Graduate Programs; William Holbrook and Lauren McCauley, College of Science and Technology; Noah Polk and Molly Flanagan, College of Business and Public Affairs; Erin Rummage and Sarah Francis, College of Education; Faith Brown and Abbie Crowe, Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Jeremy Roberts sang the national anthem; Joseph Rivers led the alma mater; and MSU’s Black Gospel Ensemble, directed by Dr. Roosevelt Escalante, performed during the commencement program.
Following the ceremony, the newest alumni were inducted into the MSU Alumni Association Inc., by its president, Sen. Robin Webb of Grayson.
Morehead State’s spring semester begins Monday, Jan. 13.
