AT THE CEREMONY Observations

Observations from Sunday’s graduation ceremony at Youngstown State University:

Dr. David Sweet said it was the first class to graduate in YSU’s centennial year.

James Evans, university photographer, was covering his 57th and final graduation ceremony. Dr. Sweet said Evans is retiring, as is YSU Events Coordinator Pamela Palumbo. Both were recognized with a round of applause during the ceremony.

Keynote speaker Chad P. Wick was bestowed an honorary doctor of humane letters degree during the graduation ceremony.

Parents of student speaker Chad Miller, John and Beth Miller of Poland, are both YSU graduates. His sister, Alison, also graduated from YSU on Sunday.

All of the graduates wore black robes and mortar boards. About a half-dozen graduates put some sort of novelty message on the top of their mortar boards, ranging from the standard “Thanks Mom and Dad” to “4 U Dad” and one that said simply, “The End.”