Graduates share goals, ambitions

Brandon Michaels, 56, and his 22-year-old daughter, Kristen, graduated together.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Despite the lack of economic growth and job opportunities in the area, several of Youngstown State University's newest graduates said they will look for work here first.
Most said, however, if it became necessary, they would move, preferably South or West, for the right job.
Brandon W. Michaels, 56, one of the oldest of Sunday's 600 graduates, said he is ready to go just about anywhere to use his bachelor's degree in education. He is qualified to teach English and social studies in grades four through nine.
Michaels graduated with his 22-year-old daughter, Kristen Marie Michaels, who received the same degree as her father.
He is assistant to the shop chairman at United Auto Workers Local 1112 at General Motors in Lordstown. Despite having more than 30 years at the plant, Michaels said he plans to teach.
"The first school district that offers me a job, has hired a teacher," Michaels said.
The Michaelses said going to school together -- they even shared a class and have mutual friends -- and graduating together has been special.
"Graduating with my daughter will be a lifelong memory," Brandon Michaels said.
"My father helped me in many ways with advice and studying," said his daughter, who graduated cum laude.
Grateful he returned
Brandon said he went back to school because he "had a hole" in his life. He urged people who are a "little older" to go back to school if that is their desire.
"I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a wonderful experience," he said.
Kelli R. Downs of Howland, Charissa D. Sohayda of Vienna and Heather L. Young of Cortland all received bachelor of music in education degrees.
Because it is the middle of the school year, most teaching positions are filled for this academic year. In the interim, the new music teachers plan to continue to give private lessons, catch on as substitute teachers and find permanent teaching jobs in area school districts when hiring for the 2006-07 year begins.
Young said, however, she plans to go to graduate school to get a master's degree in music performance, so a permanent job is not her top priority.
For William L. Tate Jr. of Cleveland, it appears the task of finding that elusive job in his field already has been accomplished.
Tate said a recruiter from FirstEnergy Corp. was in the audience to watch him receive his associate in applied science degree in electrical engineering, and he was expecting a job offer.
Tate, who is an associate minister and works with youth at Union Baptist Church in Youngstown, said he plans to work and go for his bachelor's degree at YSU at the same time.
Michael Paxton of Boardman is another who is not in a hurry to leave the Youngstown area because of jobs he and his wife have and family ties.
Paxton, 26, who received a bachelor's degree in marketing, is a customer service representative for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. His wife, Stephanie, works at Pulmonary Rehabilitation Associates in Boardman.
Sunday's commencement was an important day not only for the graduates, though.
For families and friends who filled Beeghly Center, it was a mixture of pride and relief.
"We're very happy and very proud of her," Bob and Cindy Zdelar of Austintown, said of their daughter, Angela, who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in education.
"It's also a relief, that whole tuition deal," Cindy Zdelar said. The Zdelars have a second daughter at YSU, Allison, who will graduate in December 2006.
Stephen Bartolin Jr., formerly of Hubbard, who is chairman, president and chief executive of The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., gave the commencement address. The Broadmoor is a 700-room, 3,000-acre resort with three championship golf courses, 19 restaurants and lounges, and some 110,000 square feet of meeting space.
Bartolin, a 1975 YSU business administration graduate, received the degree of honorary doctor of humane letters from Hai Shiuh Wang, chairman of the YSU Board of Trustees.
Shares part of his success
Bartolin, who said he has always learned more from case studies than theory, offered observations about his career path -- working in the bag room of a golf club at a West Virginia resort to becoming one of the top resort executives in the nation -- to the new graduates.
"The lives and careers of people who have good positive attitudes and do more than they are asked tend to work out better than those who are complacent and a little on the bitter side," he said. "Take the former path and it will come back to you in ways you cannot believe.
"Never forget where you come from. Treat everybody at any level with dignity and respect," he added.
Angeline Shelton, student commencement speaker, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of music education degree.
Shelton, who plans to teach music in public schools and earn a master's degree in music education, praised the faculty at YSU's Dana School of Music for encouraging her and helping her become the trumpet player and person "I didn't know I could be."
She said she was grateful for the chance to play with outstanding musicians at YSU, and described playing at Carnegie Hall in New York City with YSU's Wind Ensemble as the "trip of a lifetime."
Shelton, whom YSU President David C. Sweet described as one of the university's 4,000 nontraditional students, is married and the mother of two.