Northwest Missouri State University awarded 495 bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and education specialist certificates Friday during its winter commencement ceremonies.
“Take the time to get to know your new colleagues, or just the folks you will interview with, as you venture into your first postgraduate positions,” Bilal Clarance said during his address to the graduates. “Listen and learn from anyone and everyone you can, from your manager to your peers. And when entry-level people like yourselves join, do not discard them, especially as you advance in your career, because if your heart is open you will learn from them as well.”
Clarance, a 2005 Northwest alumnus and software engineering manager at a Silicon Valley technology giant, reflected on his career, having found professional success as a co-founder and developer with several tech start-ups. A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, he came to Northwest as an international student and was a member of a Bearcat basketball team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight and was inducted into Northwest’s M-Club Hall of Fame. He continued his basketball career after earning his college degree, playing for clubs throughout Europe and he captained the Danish men’s national team.
Reflecting on Clarance’s message during his own remarks, Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski encouraged graduates to make Northwest proud and “contribute to the societal good” as they enter the workforce.
“It’s making sure that we connect, not just as Bearcats but with people worldwide,” Jasinski said. “In this day and age, Bearcats learning, connecting, caring and especially practicing civility and showing pride is more important now than ever before. Your diploma is testament to your decision to live and work as an educated person. Our society needs you now more than ever.”
Geographically, 51 percent of the graduates were Missouri residents, and another 34 percent hailed from Iowa and Nebraska. International graduates represented the countries of Argentina, Colombia, Germany, Nepal and India.
Members of the graduating class ranged in age from 20 to 69.