`EMBRACE THE FUTURE'

Judy Wilferth, left, received the Vandiver Award and Dr. Janet Weber received the Pride Award during commencement exercises Saturday at Southeast Missouri State University.

English professor Dr. Robert Hamblin urged Southeast Missouri State University graduates Saturday to embrace the future with courage and confidence.

But he said they should also carry concern for their fellow man and the environment.

Hamblin delivered the winter commencement address at the Show Me Center. About 4,000 people attended the ceremony.

Hamblin praised the graduating class of 509 students, noting they succeeded where some had failed.

"Not every student who enrolls is capable of doing the work," Hamblin said. "Some will fail."

Hamblin, who directs Southeast's Center for Faulkner Studies, said the graduates had overcome self doubts and fears of failure.

"There can be no great success without risk," Hamblin said. "Successful individuals are seldom people who have never known failure along the way."

Hamblin advised graduates to be willing to take risks. "The real losers are the ones who never even tried," he said.

Hamblin said he has witnessed the charity of Southeast students who participated in everything from food drives to blood drives.

He urged the graduates to continue their humanitarian efforts and protect the planet's fragile environment.

"It ill behooves any of us to rock the boat by fighting for the best seats," said Hamblin.

"Go forth and make us proud," he said.

Cape Girardeau civic leader Judy Wilferth received the Vandiver Award for her efforts over the years in support of the university.

She has been active in the university's foundation and previously served as chairman of the foundation board.

Dr. Janet Weber, associate professor of nursing, received the PRIDE Award. The award recognizes outstanding faculty.

Degrees were conferred on 479 undergraduates and 30 graduate students.

None of them stood out more than Michael Aulbert of Lake St. Louis.

The criminal justice major sported a toy police car and handcuffs atop his mortar board. He and Carol Reynolds of Ste. Genevieve graduated at the head of the class. Both graduated with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

Only 87 students have graduated with perfect grade point averages in the university's 124-year history.

Graduating senior Christopher Schoessel of Imperial composed and sang a song about the winter commencement titled, "This is the Day."

He finished to loud applause from the graduates and their friends and families in the audience.

Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president, said the 509 graduates join the university's more than 46,000 alumni.

Southeast graduates, he said, live in every state in the nation and 50 foreign countries.