Graduates were congratulated by various faculty, staff, family, friends and other loved ones during the 120th mid-year commencement ceremony.

Connor Loftus was chosen as this year’s student commencement speaker. Loftus, a fisheries and wildlife management major, is a non-traditional student who enrolled with a young daughter and as a Navy veteran. He quickly became involved in numerous campus organizations and initiatives such as the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University, the Student Affairs Committee, the Veteran Student Association, International Honor Society, the Food Insecurity Committee and spearheaded the NMU Food Pantry.

His speech left students with a message to inspire change.

“When reflecting on our time here on campus and looking around, one thing has become very apparent,” he said. “Changes are happening here at NMU. Campus does not look or feel the same way it did when we first set foot on campus. There’s a sense of renewed energy and fresh ideas flowing everywhere that you look.”

A graduate smiles during the beginning of the Northern Michigan University commencement ceremony Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

He noted changes such as the new Wildcat Willy mascot, residence halls and the Northern Center. These changes took place during these graduates’ time at NMU and wouldn’t have happened without their input. Their experiences and knowledge gained throughout their college years will be with them wherever they go, he said.

“It will now be our job to take all the love and support from our time here at NMU and put it into action to change the world. That seems like a lot of pressure, and it is, but we have done it on a smaller scale here and been given the tools to succeed. I have no doubt that on a larger scale we’ll be just as successful,” Loftus said. “When people come to us and ask how it is that we’ve been so successful, we can look them in the eye and say I am an NMU Wildcat.”

This year’s student choice speaker was Dr. Scott Jordan, associate professor in the Outdoor Recreation and Leadership Management program.

Scott said he was honored to be chosen as speaker and told the graduates that great things lie ahead of them.

“Whatever your expectations are at this point you will exceed them,” he said.

A graduate is seen just before walking across the stage during Saturday's commencement. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

Throughout his time in the outdoor recreation field, he has been taught many life lessons, he added. One of them being to go about life with passion and use it toward your success.

“We can channel our passion into our everyday lives toward productiveness and use it as a power to make us effective citizens in the world,” Jordan said.

Following the speeches, graduates crossed the stage with their degrees in hand and officially became NMU alumni.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.

A construction management graduate spots his family in the crowd as NMU’s Fall 2019 graduating class heads to their seats before the ceremony. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

Graduates make their walk into the commencement ceremony smiling and waving to parents and other loved ones along the way. (Journal photos by Trinity Carey)

A decorated cap of a fall 2019 graduate is seen. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)