While students were starting to settle in their seats during the second year of graduation from James Madison University of the weekend, Camryn Kelly and his family had to take some additional photos.
The major in biology was one of the less than 300 students in science and mathematics graduated from the University of Atlantic Union Bank Center on Saturday afternoon, and it was a little sad to say goodbye.
“It’s soft-amer, I think,” said Kelly. “Everyone says. It was such a fun moment, but I am ready to go to the next chapter. ”
Kelly, a student outside the state of Maryland, said that she finally wanted to enter neuroscience but will take a break at home to understand her next steps.
“Honestly, (the best part of JMU) is that I have to go to school with my boyfriend,” said Kelly. “We were able to spend a lot of time together.”
The start weekend of James Madison University brought students, families and friends from all over to Atlantic Union Bank Center. Like many other universities of its size, JMU organizes several different start ceremonies from Thursday to Saturday, divided by Major.
JMU conferred 4,084 undergraduate diplomas and 491 CE -semester graduates. The most popular undergraduate majors were the health sciences, sports and leisure management and psychology, while the most popular mastery programs were education and accounting.
Getting the College of Science and Mathematics diploma on Saturday afternoon, around 285 students received diplomas. One of them was the major of Ricky Gonzales physics, who personalized his graduation cap with his favorite biblical verse and his drawings of his pets.
“I feel pretty good,” said Gonzales after graduating. “It’s always a surreal experience.”
Thanks to JMU, Gonzales discovered his interest in geophysics and was one of the 18 graduate students with a diploma in physics. As a student, he was part of a team that did research in the county of Highland, using electrical resistivity to find the location of underground caves systems. He hopes to continue this kind of research in the future.
“I’m trying to do geophysics, I want to do more in theoretical modeling,” said Gonzales.
On the day of his graduation, Gonzales was full of plans for the future.
“I’m trying to find a job and I also get married soon,” said Gonzales. “And I’m trying to get started at the higher school.”
Although the College of Science and Mathematics is one of the smallest schools in JMU and that there were many more chairs than the students, the stands were still packed and the crowd excited. The students wore purple graduation dresses with goldening in gold, and some decorated their caps with flowers, quotes and photographs.
There was a lecturer of the faculty and a speaker student during the ceremony, who both joined the sciences in their remarks.
The geneticist and professor Tim Gloss used the concept of “continuity with variation” found in genetics to describe the diversified community of JMU.
“In other words, similarities with differences,” said Gloss. “It is our own continuity with the variation that defines us as human beings. It is our own depth and extended diversity with the common points that are necessary to prosper ourselves, but we could also be essential for us to survive. We can share our unique ideas and learn from those who share with us. ”
Gloss encouraged students to be themselves and to accept and learn from others different.
“When we feel belonging to the community and are not only accepted, but celebrated, they are more likely to commit – and when you engage, we all take advantage of it,” said Gloss.
Gloss, who has been a professor at JMU for 19 years and has seen many diplomas, has also assured students that he has already seen many students’ classes continue to be great, and this year is no exception.
“I know that you never compromise your integrity, I know that you will never lack the courage of your convictions,” said Gloss. “I saw him.”
The major in chemistry and the majority of a Angelina Lo Presti promotion used his speech to encourage his comrades to use their communication skills to make science and mathematics accessible to the public and to try to bring others to the STEM fields.
“For (third year), science is an exciting opportunity to learn and have fun, but unfortunately, this excitement decreases as you age – in particular for girls and members of under -represented groups,” said Lo Presti.
Lo Presti told his comrades from priority to human connection and clear communication during the science discussion with others.
“Let’s be welcoming ambassadors to stem,” said Lo Presti. “Let’s count on communication, not lucky, to make science and the world a better place.”
The majors in biology were the majority of graduates, 161 obtaining a diploma in biology and 32 others obtaining a biotechnology diploma.
Sydney Conley, who said she was particularly interested in plants and microbiology.
“I have been great in science since I was little,” said Conley. “I want to do something with microbiology, but I don’t know where it will take me.”
Like other JMU students who have obtained their diplomas during the weekend, Conley is now waiting for the future.
“I feel very proud of myself and all my peers,” said Conley. “I’m super excited to see where my life is going now.”