EDUCATION: GOVERNOR-ELECT, MUSICAN SHARE WISDOM WITH GRADS

A man with his political future in front of him and another with decades of music making behind him spoke to over 600 graduating students at Southeast Missouri State University's commencement on Saturday.

Governor-elect Bob Holden and jazz music legend Clark Terry provided advice, music and humor as Terry received an honorary degree and Holden gave the commencement address.

Holden recalled his days growing up on a farm in Birch Tree, Mo., where his grandfather didn't have much use for anyone with a college education. But Holden said because his father didn't approve, he and his three siblings all graduated with higher degrees.

Holden, whose former political office was state treasurer, made a point of noting parents contributions to education.

"I congratulate the parents, who have gotten these students out of your household and off of your payroll," he said.

The governor-elect emphasized the importance of having one-sixth of Saturday's graduates completing degrees in education and the value of that to the state.

"From the first day of my administration until the last education will be a priority," Holden said.

Perfect grade point

The particularly outstanding achievement of four seniors who obtained a 4.0 grade point average was recognized by provost Dr. Jane Stephens, attending her first commencement in her new role.

Dwayne Crites of Jackson, Mo., Terry Minderman of Malden, Mo., Amanda Black of Mill Shoals, Ill., and Rebecca Shull of Kearney, Mo. were added to a list of less than 130 students who have achieved a perfect grade point average in the university's 126-year history.

Isamu Fujita stood during the entire ceremony operating his video camera. Fujita had come from Japan to see his son graduate with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Although his two younger children are studying in Japan, Fujita said his oldest son came to Southeast for economic reasons.

"We liked the low price," Fujita said.

Even though Fujita said he was enjoying his visit to Cape Girardeau, a trip to Memphis on Friday was still on his mind.

"We like Elvis Presley," he said.

Clark Terry, who turns 80 next week, focused on performing jazz with the Southeast Studio Jazz Ensemble and delivering a short speech at commencement.

Terry, who was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters, is only the third person to receive an honorary degree from Southeast.

A native of St. Louis and a veteran flugelhorn player for Duke Ellington, Count Basie and "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, Terry said he was glad to make the trip to Cape Girardeau.

"This is my home state and Cape Girardeau is a wonderful town," he said. "Why wouldn't I come?"

Terry was a hit Saturday performing "Mumbles Returns," a song he popularized on "The Tonight Show." The songs mixes ensemble jazz with a scat-like vocal performance of nonsense words that sound like a monologue.

At the end of his solo, Terry punctuated it with the song's only intelligible words: "pregnant chad."

After the solo, trombone player and music school graduate Darren Burgfeld of Jackson, Mo., shared a few words with Terry.

Burgfeld said the conversation had nothing to do with the sign on his mortarboard that read "hire me."

"We were talking about trading tassels," Burgfeld said. "I liked his hat."