Commencement

Life is full of milestones, and for 641 Southeast Missouri State University students, one milestone will take place Saturday.

In the December commencement ceremony, 641 students -- 563 undergraduates and 78 graduate students -- will receive degrees.

While the ceremony will be a joyous one for many students and their families, some of the graduates serve as a reminder to young and old alike that learning is truly a lifelong endeavor.

Eighteen students to receive undergraduate degrees during Saturday's ceremony are 50 years old or older. One of these graduates is 80-year-old Charles Vandegriffe, a suburban St. Louis resident now retired after a career in computer technology.

Although retired, Vandegriffe was committed to staying active during his retirement and chose to pursue a general education degree online from Southeast. He now plans to attend graduate school.

Charles Vandegriffe and all the nontraditional Southeast graduates are to be commended for their commitment to receiving a college degree. Each serves as an inspiration to us all that it's never too late to learn.

Congratulations to all those receiving degrees Saturday. You have made a quality investment in your future.

Job well done.