May 11, 2024

Good luck Graduates!

Hardin Scholar on Page 3

Outgoing Editor-in-Chief says goodbye

BY TIFFANY HAGGARD | THE WICHITAN Cecil Witherspoon served as Editor-inChief for 3 semesters, starting in Spring 2023, May 10.

CECIL WITHERSPOON OUTGOING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Wichitan has been, as simply as I can put it, one of my favorite experiences in my entire life. There are a lot of things that have contributed to that; competing against other college journalists across the state of Texas, exploring the tunnels below MSU or the catwalk above the court at D.L. Ligon coliseum, late-night karaoke and nerf battles - oh, and writing dozens of stories that took me almost everywhere on campus. All fantastic memories, but not what I think I’ll take from my two (and a quarter) years with The Wichitan.

What I’ll remember most is the people. The people who were kind, even when kindness wasn’t easy. The people who were understanding, even when understanding was difficult. The people who worked hard, even when they were already working diligently on school and work and a million other things. I’ve had the privilege of leading a group of students who were so much more than students. They were passionate, they were supportive, they were certainly good journalists and much more certainly great people. I count myself blessed to work with a group of people I did not deserve, but I do not count myself unworthy only because no one could deserve such a stellar group.

To each and every one, I say thank you. And I owe every bit as much thanks to the faculty (and Lisa) who helped too, but I think they’ll be a little more understanding that I don’t have the word count to offer the praise they deserve. With a slightly heavy but endlessly hopeful heart, I wish the best to everyone who has helped me have the best three years of my life - so far.

BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN Witherspoon poses with his biggest supporter, May 10.

Reporter graduates MSU

DONOVAN JACKSON OUTGOING REPORTER

When I first got to Midwestern State in Fall 2022, I did not see myself ever writing or being involved with The Wichitan, but I am so blessed to have had the opportunity of being a writer and photographer for The Wichitan.

Words cannot express how grateful I am to work with people that have helped me to become the writer that I am. From the Wichitan staff that I have had the pleasure of working with to the support from the mass communication department. They have selflessly provided support, encouragement and praise for my articles and photography. Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has supported our work this year. As I move forward into the next stage of my life, I can honestly say that I have accomplished more than I imagined from being a team manager for our football team to The Wichitan. I, once again, thank my friends, family and my teachers for helping me get to graduation. Vol. 88 | No. 14 Midwestern State University

Editor-in-Chief: George Svoboda

Design Editor: Tiffany Haggard

Managing Editor: Abby Turner

Entertainment Editor: Sabrina Harrison

Advisors: Professor Jonathon Quam, Dr. Jim Sernoe

Teaser photo courtesy of Victoria Martinez

BY

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in mass communication, writing with the Wichitan throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, May 10.

Copyright ©2024.

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PHOTO BY TIFFANY HAGGARD | THE WICHITAN Vincent Peter works in his VPEA office,

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PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN Donovan Jackson, sports and leisure graduate, poses with a coyote decoy outside D.L. Ligon Coliseum, May 11.

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GEORGE SVOBODA

THE WICHITAN Jackson minored

Design editor bids farewell

EMILY COPELAND OUTGOING DESIGN EDITOR

After I was guilt tripped into joining student media specifically the Wichitan I showed up, not knowing what to expect. I had always loved writing, but I had never done anything in a news style except for Media Writing and Reporting with Bradley.

What I found here was a love for design, coworkers that became friends and friends that became family. I guess working until the wee hours of the morning will do that to you. The Wichitan taught me so much about teamwork, attention to detail and how a little sugar will win over anyone.

Thank you and I love you. There will always be a bag of gummy bears in my desk for all of you.

minored in public relations and is searching for jobs in that field in the Dallas metroplex, May 11.

MSU names Victoria Martinez 2024's Hardin Scholar

GEORGE SVOBODA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Midwestern State University named accounting junior Victoria Martinez the 2024 Hardin Scholar in April. The Hardin Scholar award was created in 1962 by the Hardin Foundation and is the highest academic honor at MSU. Along with prestige, the award comes with a $3,000 scholarship.

Martinez says her professors helped pave the way for her achievement, mentioning

accounting professor Lin Wang and legal studies professor Kristopher Tilker, who she says would always begin their classes with a motivational quote.

“The Hardin Award means, to me, just a recognition of not only my hard work, but the hard work of the professors in Dillard that have literally just motivated, motivated me so much to be who I am,” Martinez said.

Martinez is a first-generation college student and a member of the Priddy Scholars, something she says she is incredibly thankful for.

“I want to show them that that their investment in me was worthwhile, and that Robert and Ruby’s money are not taken for granted. That I am doing everything that I can to show them that I am grateful,” Martinez said, later adding, “And the Priddy Foundation has really cool mentors, including Cami Dean and my mentor, Ryan Kelly, who have pushed me out of my comfort zone.”

Martinez’s family attended the Honors Banquet where her name was announced, something Martinez says was even more important than the award.

“Their smiles just got really really big. And that’s really, honestly, just such- The Hardin Award was really special, but just them announcing my name, and seeing their faces, that was so much more special than anything that I could have received that night. And my brother was telling me afterwards, he was saying I was going

to do big things in life, and that this is only the beginning,” Martinez said.

Martinez is involved in several organizations on and off campus, including the Priddy Scholars, Circle K International, the state mentorship program and Dillard College of Business Administration.

“I think the one thing that I tried to encompass in myself and around me is service to others.”

Martinez says her service in the community brings her happiness and inspires her to get even more involved.

“I just gained so much fulfillment of helping others and seeing other people smile, from the work that we all did collectively, as a group,” Martinez said.

Being the Hardin Scholar, Martinez struggled to balance her academics, community service and social life more than the average student.

“Yeah, it was hard. I’m not gonna lie, it’sit’s definitely a learning experience. And I’m still learning every single day how to balance things,” Martinez said, continuing, “But the main thing I did was, I deleted social media. I deleted TikTok. And it was just a way for me, just to be like, ‘Okay, I have like, set things that I need to do today and I’m going to do them and I’m going to do them distraction free.’”

After she graduates, Martinez says she plans on continuing her education with MSU, pursuing a master’s degree and a certified public accounting license. She says she hopes to work for a CPA firm.

Martinez emphasized that she could not have achieved the Hardin Award alone.

“This wasn’t just, like, my work that I did. It’s the collection of people that are around me and that have supported me. And when they see my name, I want them to also see my parents’ name, my family’s name, and also the professors and the staff that have helped me,” Martinez said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTORIA MARTINEZ Martinez is the 2024 Hardin Scholar. The Hardin Scholar award was created in 1962 by the Hardin Foundation and comes with a $3,000 scholarship.

PHOTO COUTESY OF VICTORIA MARTINEZ Victoria Martinez volunteers with several organizations around the Wichita Falls community.

PHOTO BY KLOE COPELAND

Emily Copeland celebrates graduation, April 24.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN Copeland

GRADUATION: 2024 graduates

Ana

after walking the stage, May 11.

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Shelley Sweat, member of the Texas Tech dresses graduate candidates and audience

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN

The audience stands for the national anthem performed by the Brass Quintet, and music education

PHOTO BY ABBY TURNER | THE WICHITAN

Graduates listen to Dr. Haynie before move their tassels, May 11.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN

2024 MSU graduates sing the school's alma mater, May 11.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN MSU students ready themselves for graduation, May 11.

PHOTO BY ABBY TURNER | THE WICHITAN

Heysquierdo, nursing graduate, shows off her diploma

PHOTO BY REBEKAH GARDNE

MSU coyote statue shows its support for 2024 graduates, May 1.

graduates walk the stage

President

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN Tech University Board of Regents, adaudience members, May 10.

PHOTO BY ABBY TURNER | THE WICHITAN Graduates take in the view of the audience during the Processional,

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN MSU graduates decorated their caps with flags from home, messages for their families and jokes, May 11.

PHOTO BY ABBY TURNER | THE WICHITAN MSU graduates move the tassel on their caps, sig nifying their graduation, May 11.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN Master of science graduate candidate Chad Callendar receives his ribbom from graduate candidate Isabella Black, May 10.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA THE WICHITAN

Stacia Haynie calls for all audience members, who are able to, to stand and cheer for