School of Visual Communications alum Mark Wyatt will return to his alma mater on Dec. 16 to deliver the commencement address to OSU Institute of Technology’s 205th graduating class.
The graduation ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. in Covelle Hall on the OSUIT campus, 1801 E. 4th St., in Okmulgee.
Wyatt graduated from OSUIT in 1982, and 12 years later he founded Agency Creative in Dallas. As CEO, Wyatt has seen his company grow, and Agency Creative was recently listed in Dallas Business Journal’s Top 25 Advertising and Marketing Firms.
Wyatt said it’s an honor to be asked to come back and deliver the keynote address at commencement and remembers what it was like sitting in those seats in his cap and gown at his own graduation ceremony.
“My parents and brother were there to celebrate with me. I was thrilled about graduating with honors, but more importantly, I was ready to get out into the working world,” he said.
Wyatt has worked with national brands including Chevron, Church’s Chicken, Gatorade, Hilton Hotels, Jack Daniels, Jimmy Dean, Quaker, Renaissance Hotels and TGI Fridays.
Wyatt credits his time and education at OSUIT as one of the reasons for his success.
“The department staff and instructors were terrific. I built great relationships with them, and they really wanted to help you with your education and portfolio to help you land a great job,” he said, and it worked. “I soon realized how powerful OSUIT was after I began seeing graduates from other schools. Not only did I learn a lot and hone my talent, they instilled a strong work ethic in us students. OSUIT laid the foundation for who I have become.”
Kelly Edwards, who is graduating with an Associate in Applied Science in Photography from the School of Visual Communications, will serve as the student respondent.
Edwards, who spent 25 years as a doula and midwife, wanted a new career in photography and found OSUIT had one of the best programs around.
“OSUIT offered me hands-on experience that I could not get anywhere else. Learning from instructors that are themselves working in the field of photography was not only educational but inspirational as well,” she said. “I don’t believe that there is a better option for an aggressive education that puts you where you want to be in your career. Today, employers are looking for workers that are already skilled in their profession. OSUIT gave me those skills.”
Wyatt said when he was student it was always exciting to listen to graduates talk about the work they did in the real world. Now he hopes he can do the same for OSUIT’s newest graduating class.
“I hope to inspire them to achieve their dreams and desires. If they have the will, they will be able to find the way,” he said.