Updated May 30, 2012 @ 04:38 PM
I have covered my final graduations for the school year. There were a bunch and they are all fun to cover. I always looking forward to learning about a few of their college or career plans, and it is very uplifting watching the students reach their goals and see the excitement and joy of accomplishment in their eyes.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pittsburg senior Morgan Woods smiles as she leaves the stage after delivering her address Saturday afternoon during the 124th commencement exercises at Pittsburg High School.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Members of the Pittsburg High School Class of 2012 celebrate their accomplishment at the conclusion of the 124th commencement exercises at Pittsburg High School Saturday afternoon.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Ashleigh Shirley, a member of the Pittsburg High School Class of 2012, concludes her commencement address to applause from the packed house Saturday afternoon at Pittsburg High School.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
St. Mary’s Colgan Valedictorian William Mitchelson delivers his address Wednesday evening during commencement exercises at the St. Mary’s Colgan Field House. 46 seniors graduated in the Class of 2012.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Salutatorian Jared Mazurek gives his address as fellow Class of 2012 St. Mary’s Colgan graduates and audience at St. Mary’s Colgan Fieldhouse look on during commencement exercises Wednesday evening.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Seniors from the Frontenac High School Class of 2012 walk towards the school gymnasium Saturday afternoon to take part in the 98th annual commencement exercises at Frontenac High School.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Class of 2012 Frontenac senior Luke Dainty presents his address Saturday afternoon during the 98th annual commencement at Frontenac High School.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Frontenac senior Danielle McBride gives her commencement address Saturday afternoon during the 2012 Frontenac High School Commencement. Forty-nine seniors graduated as part of the Class of 2012.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Seniors from the Southeast High School Class of 2012 walk from the school to the gymnasium to take part in the fifty-first annual commencement exercises Sunday afternoon.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Southeast High School Valedictorian Bridget McGuire gives her address Sunday afternoon during commencement exercises in the school gymnasium.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Southeast High School senior Valedictorian Jennifer Dey gives her address Sunday afternoon during commencement exercises in the school gymnasium.
Southeast High School Salutatorian Kayla Yancey gives her address Sunday afternoon during commencement exercises in the school gymnasium.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Seniors from the Girard High School Class of 2012 celebrate at the conclusion of commencement exercises Sunday afternoon.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Girard High School senior Mary Rawlings gives her address during commencement exercises Sunday afternoon.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Girard High School senior Benjamin Coomes gives his address during commencement exercises Sunday afternoon.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pechone Stepps of Fort Scott shakes the hand of Pittsburg State University president Steve Scott Friday evening as he receives his master of science in health, human performance and recreation during commencement exercises at John Lance Arena.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pittsburg State Outstanding Senior woman Holly Hrabik gives her address Saturday morning during the College of Arts and Sciences commencement in John Lance Arena.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pittsburg State Outstanding Senior man Zachary Krumsick gives his address Saturday morning during the College of Arts and Sciences commencement in John Lance Arena.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Family and friends of Pittsburg State graduates watch as commencement exercises take place Saturday morning at John Lance Arena.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pittsburg State president Steve Scott addresses graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences Saturday morning during commencement exercises at John Lance Arena.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Pittsburg State graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences move their tassels from right to left at the end of commencement exercises Saturday morning at John Lance Arena.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Newly-commissioned 2nd Lt. Callie Wheeler receives her first salute as a commissioned officer in the United States Army from her grandfather, retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Karl Nelson, Friday morning during a commissioning ceremony at Pittsburg State University’s Veterans Memorial Amphitheater. During the ceremony, 17 cadets from the Gorilla Battalion were sworn into the Army, given the shoulder bars that indicate their rank, and received their first salute, from a sergeant, as per Army tradition.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Seventeen cadets from Pittsburg State University’s ROTC Gorilla Battalion were sworn into the United States Army as second lieutenants during a commissioning ceremony Friday morning at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater. The cadets were given the shoulder bars that indicate their rank and received their first official salute, from a sergeant, as per Army tradition. As a token, the newly-commissioned officers presented the sergeants with a silver dollar.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Jay W. Hood, a Distinguished Military Graduate of PSU who was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1975, was the keynote speaker at the commissioning ceremony. In his 37 year career, Hood has served as Commander, Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Cuba; Commanding General, 1st Army, Div. East, Fort Meade, Md.; Chief of Staff, U.S. Central Command; and most recently as International Security Forces Commander’s Liaison to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. He retired in February.
SEAN STEFFEN/THE MORNING SUN
Kent and Carmen Stephens of Wichita pin their son Benjamin, a bachelor of science in nursing graduate, on stage Saturday afternoon at Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium during the annual Pittsburg State University nurse pinning ceremony.
