Alva Review-Courier -

Graduates, faculty and families gathered Sunday afternoon, Dec. 3, in Perceful Fieldhouse for the 21st annual Fall Commencement at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Although the graduate numbers are smaller, the program included all the ceremony of the larger spring event.

Following the invocation by Jeffery A. Hall, pastor of Speak Life Fellowship A/G, NWOSU President Dr. Bo Hannaford spoke to those assembled. "Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it," said Hannaford, quoting football coach Lou Holtz.

"Whether you are a first-generation student, someone who graduated in three years or a non-traditional student coming back to school, you all have the ability to accomplish your goals, the motivation to continue your education and to finish your degree," said Hannaford.

Introducing the speaker, Hannaford said Alexa Humphries graduated from NWOSU with a business administration degree in 2005 and went on to earn a master's degree at Oklahoma Christian University. She became a certified financial planner with Edward Jones and opened a home décor business with her sister called Nickel and Vine. Hannaford said he met Humphries in Leadership Oklahoma a couple years ago.

Takeaways for Work and Life

Humphries told the audience she met her husband while at Northwestern. She said two of her most memorable moments while on campus were falling down the Jesse Dunn steps and passing out in Econ class. She congratulated the graduates saying, "Everyone has set your sights on a goal, and you finished it."

She offered the graduates some of her takeaways in work and life.

• Be a lifelong learner. Illustrating her commitment to learning, Humphries recounted spending 18 months driving to Edmond twice a week while working on her master's degree. She also took sewing classes over her lunch breaks at the same time.

• What is your plus-factor that makes you employable? Humphries said about every ten years you need to reinvent yourself. "Be a champ for your education," she said. "Be an expert in your business. Be an expert in your competitor's business."

Desiree Morehead

Alexa Humphries was the guest speaker for the Fall Commencement Sunday.

• The fallacy of a work-life balance. "It doesn't exist," said Humphries. "There really isn't one." She said she was fortunate to find her husband early in life; they are teammates in business and family. She described how he supported her in obtaining her master's degree, and she supported him in getting a second college degree. She added that the most empowering word is "no," saying no to added responsibilities.

"It's about juggling balls," Humphries said in conclusion. She said some balls are glass and others are made of rubber. The glass ones are precious like children and relationships. If they fall, they shatter. The rubber balls represent non-precious things in life. When dropped, they scatter but they can bounce back to you.

Dr. James Bell, vice president for academic affairs, presented the graduating class and President Hannaford conferred their academic degrees. The new graduates filed across the stage to receive their diplomas.

The ceremony concluded with the audience participating in singing Alma Mater under the direction of Dr. Karsten Longhurst followed by the benediction by Pastor Hall.