OSU Institute of Technology’s 213th Commencement will be held Friday, August 23, with two ceremonies honoring more than 300 career-ready students.
Weyerhaeuser Senior Vice President Keith O’Rear will serve as the keynote speaker. Born and raised in Idabel, Oklahoma, O’Rear began his career 30 years ago in a technical role at one of the lumber mills in Arkansas and now leads the entire Wood Products division as an SVP.
Weyerhaeuser, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands and wood products, is an industry partner that provides a sponsorship opportunity for select students to receive an education with a career promise post-graduation.
The student respondent for the 2 p.m. ceremony will be Melissa Sadler, a graduating student from OSUIT with an Associate in Applied Science in Graphic Design Technology from the School of Creative & Information Technologies.
A Morris native, Sadler credits OSUIT with providing a quality education for many members of her family. During her time at OSUIT, she was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the student club, Visual Communications Collective, and also received scholarships from both ART Plus and the Lew Wentz Foundation.
She is currently providing freelance graphic design work for the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks and is considering continuing her education at OSUIT through the new Bachelor of Technology in Applied Technical Leadership.
Joshua Bryon Smith will serve as the student respondent for the 7 p.m. ceremony and graduates with an Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Service Technology from the School of Transportation & Heavy Equipment.
Smith, originally from Broken Bow, said that he chose to attend OSUIT because of the hands-on training and high percentage rate of employment for graduates. Currently employed as an auto technician for Eskew’s Garage and Towing, his selection was spot on.
“I knew nothing about cars when I first came to OSUIT,” said Smith. “I have learned something new since day one.”
Smith said that everything that he was taught in the classroom was reinforced with legitimate, real-world applications. During his time at OSUIT, he maintained membership in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and received a scholarship from the Swank Family Endowment. Smith, who is graduating Summa Cum Laude, plans to return to Eskew’s Garage and Towing after graduation to continue working.
The ceremonies will be held at Covelle Hall, on the south side of campus off Fourth Street. Doors will open for visitors at 12:45 p.m. for the 2 p.m. ceremony and 5:45 p.m. for the 7 p.m. ceremony. For more information on OSUIT’s commencement ceremonies, visit osuit.edu/commencement.