BGSU grads can compete anywhere

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Graduate students Robert
Dennie, Joshua Jordan and Jason Francis Campbell of the BGSU College of Business Administration, smile
and cheer for onlookers watching commencement preparations from above before the start of the official
ceremonies Friday at the Stroh Center. (Photo: Enoch Wu/Sentinel-Tribune)

As a student at Bowling Green State University in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bruce Misamore
remembers the anti-war demonstrations in front of Shatzel Hall.
Nearly four decades later, social changes are still taking place, but are now driven by the economic
climate with movements like Occupy Wall Street, for example, he said.
"We are undertaking some massive social upheavals that I think are going to continue for several
years," he told BGSU graduates Friday evening.
Misamore, who graduated with a finance degree from BGSU in 1972 and a master’s in business administration
in 1973, spoke at the university’s commencement at the Stroh Center.
During the ceremony, 172 graduate students earned their degrees along with 333 undergraduate students
from the colleges of Business Administration, Health and Human Services, Musical Arts, Technology and
BGSU Firelands.
A second fall commencement ceremony was held this morning at the Stroh Center for graduates of the
colleges of Arts and Sciences and Education and Human Development.
Dr. Robert DeBard, an associate professor emeritus of higher education and college student personnel and
former dean of BGSU Firelands, served as commencement speaker for today’s ceremony.
In all, more than 1,000 students were given diplomas during the fall graduation ceremonies.
On Friday, Misamore, a 28-year veteran in the oil and gas industry, told the graduates that given the
country’s financial situation, things we have taken for granted may no longer be available.
"We are no longer the leader in a number of different things and we’ve got to change that. We are
going to have to learn how to compete differently."
For today’s graduates, he said, "It means that things are going to be a lot more difficult for you
than they were for me."
However, despite the challenges ahead, Misamore told the graduates not to be intimidated and to hold
themselves in high regard.
"I have competed with anybody, anywhere with my Bowling Green degree and you can do exactly
that," said the former chief financial officer of the YUKOS Oil Company in Russia. "Your
degree from Bowling Green will get you wherever you want to go, but you have to make it happen."

BGSU President Dr. Mary Ellen Mazey also addressed the graduates.
"Our message to you is simple: You have embraced the BGSU core values and we hope you let them form
your world-view."
"Do your best to make us proud with the stories you are about to tell with your future," Mazey
said.

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