KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Graduation ceremonies happen regularly at WMU. It’s part of what a college is all about, but the Ceremonies they held at WMU on Saturday were special because it was one of the last times that President John Dunn would be presiding before he retires at the end of June.
University spokesperson Cheryl Roland says Summer Commencement will be the last, on June 24th, just days before he is scheduled to retire.
It was also special because Governor Rick Snyder was the keynote speaker at the first ceremony. While Snyder got his degree at the University of Michigan, he says he actually picked up most of his accounting credits at the Haworth College of Business at WMU.
He says he had a choice of living on Gull Lake and taking his classes at WMU or getting them in Ann Arbor and he opted for the lake.
He says he is not the only governor who is a CPA, but he may hold the record for studying for the specialty on a pontoon boat. He says he also married a Bronco who always spends homecoming weekend in Kalamazoo.
Snyder talked about his personal experiences and ambitions and urged the students to try different careers during their lives.
He says he has worked in the private sector, served in the public sector and hopes to teach once he leaves Lansing. He asked the students to set high goals and to try to achieve them in Michigan.
The University conferred 2,628 during four separate ceremonies held during the day, including 34 doctorates. They have to hold four to fit everyone into Miller Auditorium.
