ALUMNIUPDATE
May 2006 Commencement:
A Plumb family affair!
“A Snapshot of the Future” Representative W. Scott Oelslager took the podium May 21 at the Canton Memorial Civic Center and told the 533 graduates before him that the title of his commencement address was “A Snapshot of the Future.” He paused, smiled and then said, “I’m looking at it.” Before nearly 3500 guests, Oelslager related the future of the Stark State graduates to Thomas L. Friedman’s book The World is Flat. Oelslager spoke of Friedman’s optimism about the world, but also about the necessity to keep up in an ever-changing world. He talked about the different types of workers who make up our “flat world,” as described in Friedman’s book. Rep. Oelslager emphasized that Stark State grads in the audience represented those types of workers, many of whom are in demand globally: accountants, engineers, health care workers, information technology specialists, service workers, auto technology workers, those who have the need to update their skills and those who have started a second career. He praised Stark State for the quality of its programs and its graduates. “Analysts have always measured society by their achieved dreams,” Oelslager said. “I’m sure you will achieve your dreams.” Oelslager, state representative for the 51st House District, is a well-known proponent of higher education and serves as a strong voice for public education in the Ohio legislature.
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All parents are proud of their children on graduation day, but on May 21 Rick Plumb, a Stark State graduate himself, was especially beaming as he watched not one, but three of his children take the stage at the Canton Memorial Civic Center to receive their degrees. Pictured in the center from left to right with their associate degrees are: Angie Fettler, nursing; Rick Plumb II, civil engineering with architectural and surveying options with distinction, and Ileann Hicks, human and social service technology with distinction. Dad Rick Plumb, a 1994 graduate in human and social services technology, flanks them on the left and their stepmother Martha Miller-Plumb, former instructor of English and former coordinator of Mind Games at Stark State, is on the far right. Truly a proud day for the Plumb family and for Stark State College! Congratulations to all.