John Marshall Historian speaks at

Second Largest Commencement

Dr. John Edward Smith

For some students this day marks the end of their educational adventures. Students have spent four years pursuing that long-awaited degree and for others the journey may have been extended to five or six years. For other students the educational excursion may have been completed in a shorter amount of time. It does not matter how long it took you to make it to this point, what classes you did or did not take to get here, it only matters that you made it to commencement.

The mood was a joyous one for the graduates who gathered together, some for the last time, for commencement of Saturday, May 9, 1998 at the Huntington Civic Arena. A record 1,908 students celebrated with one another,

reflected on cherished memories and thought about their futures at Marshall University's 161st Commencement Ceremony.

John Marshall historian addressed graduates with a brief history on John Marshall, for whom the university is named. President J. Wade Gilley congratulated the honors graduates for achieving such a spectacular accomplishment. He then inferred the degrees upon the newly established alumni class.

Some students may not return to Marshall again after they leave Huntington, but we are sure that they will cherish the time spent at our university.

Pictured clockwise from bottom (l): Doctoral Graduates prepare to receive their degrees; Graduates enter the Civic Arena; Ken Bensch prepares to lead graduates into the auditorium; President Gilley presents diplomas to Medical School graduates, Dr. John Edward Smith speaks to the graduating class

Pictured clockwise from bottom (l): Lisa Allen greets friends at the ceremony; Beverly Milam and friend pose for pictures; Larry Harris (center) celebrates with friends from the Graduate School; The School of Nursing graduates with silly string, and Counseling Graduate students Gunther Schryer and Jason Dodson stand as students enter the arena

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