The University of Montana and Montana State University held their Fall commencements on Saturday.
UofM:
More than 200 students received diplomas, and every single UM department was represented.
Decorated caps and gowns fill the Adams Center. Students lined up to shake the President's hand and walk across the stage.
Jarrod Sellers completed his degree in wildlife biology
Sellers said, "This is a ten year journey for me. I started in the Navy, six and a half years of that, and three and a half years here at the University."
Fall commencement started last year, to honor students that can't make the traditional spring ceremony.
Sellers said, "I wanna work in research, hopefully with the forest service. I had a job interview yesterday, as soon as i got done with my finals."
Sellers hopes to work in tech for the national ergonomics association
For students like him, graduation marks the start of new opportunities.
Bonnie Kurien works for Disability Student Services on campus. She hopes continuing her education will help her connect to students.
Kurien said, "I love that the university is like a big family, and that the faculty and staff are so supportive and willing to work with students."
Kurien got an associate of arts in psychology and plans to continue toward a bachelors in the spring.
MSU:
According to the Registrar’s Office, 853 candidates for undergraduate degrees were expected to be at the ceremony and 165 for their graduate degrees.
Graduates came from the College of Agriculture, Arts and Architecture, Business, Education, Engineering, Letters and Science, Nursing and Gallatin College.
“I’m gonna miss my advisers, my professors, my fellow students, classmates, so on and so forth. I’m gonna miss literally everything about MSU,” said Salman Alshaykh.
“It’s crazy. It feels really weird. I feel like it won’t hit us until January when we’re not coming back to school anymore,” said Hannah Zwemke.
“It feels pretty rewarding. Especially when the balloons drop. That was the most exciting part,” Jonah Studer said.
Mike Clark, former executive director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition received the honorary doctorate degree in letters.
President Waded Cruzado presented the Montana State University President's Medallion to philanthropist Diana Blank.
