A graduation celebration was held at The Ohio State University at Mansfield campus on Thursday, May 3, 2018. In total, 88 students earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees and 105 earned associate of arts degrees.
Ohio State Mansfield Dean/Director Norman Jones welcomed the students along with friends and family during the ceremony at Founders Auditorium. He turned to the graduates and said, “I hope you find graduation a time to step back, reflect on your own acheivements, and be reminded about the power of the human mind.” He continues, “Remember all that you have accomplished and all you will go on to accomplish.”
The featured speaker of the night was Ohio State Alumnus Christopher L. Brown. He earned a B.A. in English and completed his entire degree on the Mansfield campus. Brown later earned a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. In 2011, Brown was hired as an assistant law director for the City of Mansfield. In 2014, he was appointed deputy law director.
Brown spoke from experience as a student on the Mansfield campus. He said, “Today may feel like the end of something big, but it is really the beginning of something much larger.”
Brown reflected on the two types of graduates; those who follow the traditional path of attending college immediately after high school and those non-traditional students who gained some life experience before coming back to school to better themselves.
“You just earned a degree from a world-class institution. Not only will your education help you think critically but it also gives the ability to pursue any dream or purpose.”
Thursday night’s celebration was just the beginning, the graduates officially received their diplomas at a ceremony on the Columbus campus on Sunday, May 6, 2018.