SRU students reflect on journey to get diplomas
SLIPPERY ROCK — After more than 20 years, Lee Dillon was able to accomplish a dream.
Dillon, 42, of Butler was one of the 511 students who graduated Saturday at Slippery Rock University's winter commencement ceremony.
He initially was going to go to Butler County Community College right after high school, but he had children, so he started to work. He worked in retail for two decades until he walked into work one day to discover he no longer had a job.
After talking to his wife, he chose to pursue a college degree.
Dillon started at BC3 at age 39 and transferred to SRU after two years, earning an associate degree. At SRU, he received a bachelor's degree in parks and resource management.
“That's what I've always wanted to do,” Dillon said.
He now will work as a ranger at Moraine State Park. He eventually wants to enter into the state park manager training program.
“We'll see how that pans out,” Dillon said.
At the ceremony at Morrow Field House on SRU's campus, college President Cheryl Norton said SRU is expressing optimism for the future of the graduates.
“I have no doubt that our optimism is well placed,” Norton said.
She challenged the students to not only improve their own lives, but also to make their communities and the world better places.
Jeff Smith, a member of SRU's council of trustees, told the graduates they should be proud of their accomplishments and said they have earned the honor of wearing a cap and gown and walking across the stage.
“This is your shining moment,” Smith said.
Backstage, Ethan Brady of Butler was reflecting on his time at SRU.“I am pumped for sure. It's been a long time coming,” Brady, 23, said.He graduated with a degree in geography and environmental science. He now wants to get a job as a geographic information systems analyst. He said those jobs are available all across the country.But he said, “I'd prefer to stay close, for now.”Alexa Webster of Grove City was standing in heels for so long backstage that she had to sit on the floor for a bit while waiting to walk into the arena.“My feet hurt,” Webster, 23, said.She graduated with a degree in criminology and criminal justice. Next month, she will return to SRU to get her master's degree in the same subjects.“I'm not done yet,” Webster said.For now, she will continue to work at a dental office. After getting her next degree, she said she will pursue teaching at a college.
Also while waiting backstage, a group of students posed for pictures while holding an Irish flag.Their professor, Rob Snyder, said the group recently returned from student teaching in Dublin for four weeks. This has been the third year a group from SRU has taken the trip.He said he always is proud to see these students graduate.“It's the best feeling in the world, just to see how much they've grown,” Snyder said.Amber Bassett, a public health major, chose to decorate her graduate cap. It read: “And the adventure begins.”“It just was a spur of the moment thing,” Bassett, 23, of Bradford said.Now that she has graduated, her next goal is to find a job.“I want to travel, though,” Bassett said.
