SRU celebrates commencement
SLIPPERY ROCK — Jane Armitage was not the average person graduating from Slippery Rock University on Saturday.
At 56 years old, she was receiving her first degree, a bachelor's in social work.
“It was always my dream to get a degree,” Armitage, of Butler Township, said.
She was one of the 1,625 students who graduated in the two spring commencement ceremonies held in the Morrow Field House.
Armitage got married and had children when she was younger, and she did not want to attempt to go to school part time or at night. When the company she had worked at for 34 years was sold, she was laid off.
That gave her the perfect opportunity to obtain her degree. She attended Butler County Community College for two years before transferring to SRU. She plans to pursue work as a domestic violence counselor.
“I'm doing everything that I wanted to do,” Armitage said.
At the ceremonies, SRU President Cheryl Norton said commencement signifies the end of years of studying and discipline for the students. She also said this year's commencement is special because it is SRU's 125th anniversary.
Bob Taylor, chairman of SRU's council of trustees and a 1978 graduate, said the 2014 graduates have made his degree more valuable.
“Slippery Rock University has a reputation, a good reputation, and you just enhanced it,” Taylor said.
Before the ceremony backstage, Aubrey Rader, 24, of Jackson Township reflected on her six years at SRU.
“I'll miss Slippery Rock,” Rader said.
She said she was very happy to graduate with her master's degree in student affairs. She said she wants to work in a career services office on a college campus.
Kohl Blint, 22, of Muddy Creek Township said he, too, was excited, but said graduating was bittersweet. A music performance major, he said he will miss playing drums with his friends.He chose a school close to home partially because he took drum lessons from an SRU professor. He auditioned for the program and was accepted.“It was just the obvious choice out of all my other schools,” Blint said. “No regrets.”He will be heading to Queens College in New York to continue studying drum performance.“So, I only have three months off until that starts again,” Blint said.After that, he said he may consider pursuing a doctoral degree.Grady Morris, 22, of Brady Township graduated with his degree in parks and recreation in only three years.“It's about time,” Morris said.He did not plan to graduate so quickly, but said it just kind of fell that way. His next step will be an internship at Maurice K. Goddard State Park in Mercer County. After that, he would like to get a park related job in Erie County.Daniel Weibel, 23, of Butler Township said he will miss the friends he made at SRU, but not all of the assignments.“I am very happy; happy to move on with my life,” Weibel said.He plans to get into a nursing program. He would like to work as a registered nurse and eventually become a nurse practitioner.
