Will's Graduation,Dec.13,2014, Oklahoma Central University

William Richard Watkins, Magna Cum Laude, 2014, University of Central Oklahoma

There are many wonderful things about being a Grandpa but I won't take up your and my valuable time and space in this blog posting to list the many things. I must mention just a couple to set the stage so you will know where I am coming from or where I am heading with this posting. Maybe I will figure it out also. First and foremost, having the ability to travel to witness special events. Jan and I had the privilege of seeing all eight of our grand children high school graduation ceremonies and several of their college graduation ceremonies. Following Jan's passing I have been able to see the remaining ones graduate from college. What a wonderful experience. But, it doesn't seem like very long ago that Jan was traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be with Jamie when Will was born. We saw him become quite a musician and worker in his church with the youth music program. We saw him try his hand at sports but that did not seem to be his niche especially after he broke his arm playing football. It doesn't seem possible when you look at him now ( the tall hunk of man that he has become ) to think that at that time he was just about the smallest player on the field. Boy has he changed.

Following High School graduation he entered University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma. I suspect Will was about like the rest of us in that he changed his mind a couple of time before deciding what course of study he would pursue. He finally nailed it down to and he received his Bachelor Degree In Business Administration with a major in Finance. He will be specializing in accounting. Throughout college he has been a diligent student and worker. He was a leader who had the ability to meet and talk to people and be completely at ease in doing so. He worked for a period of time in the University President's office and later interned with the Devon Energy Company in Oklahoma City who eventually hired him full time. 

I drove to my daughter Jamie's home in Tulsa and on Dec. 12th. Sara flew in from Texas A & M on Dec.12th. Steve, Jamie, Sara and I drove over to Edmond for the graduation ceremony on the 13th. There we were met by Steve's mother ( Doris Watkins ), his sister( Karen Warren and Karen's daughter Leah ) as well as Mr and Mrs Schmitz and their daughters Kelsey and Casey. Will and Kelsey are engaged to be married in May 2015. The following photographs are all in Edmond, Oklahoma.

 It was extremely foggy on the drive over and you can still see some of it hanging around at 10:05 AM ( 9:05 Central Time ). I told some friends in Ohio I expected to be able to buy gas for under $2.00 per gallon in Oklahoma. The 7-Eleven stations in Edmond had regular for $1.99 per gallon.

 Hamilton Field House where graduation ceremonies were held. There were two ceremonies on Dec. 12 and two on Dec. 13

 School Mascot

 We entered to find twelve seats reserved for "The Watkins Family"

 General view of interior of Hamilton Field House.

 General view of interior of Hamilton Field House. Just before the ceremony started they asked us to move to the seats in the front row shown here. Better yet.

 General view of interior of Hamilton Field House.

 General view of interior of Hamilton Field House.

 My daughter Jamie with her husband Steve Watkins and their daughter Sara

Dr.Dan Betz, PhD, President of UCO comes over to talk to Steve, Jamie and Sara

 Waiting for the ceremony to start. Jamie took the photograph.

 Dr. John Barthell, Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs makes the call to 

order and introductions.

 Dr.Dan Betz, PhD, President of UCO checks the program

 Dr.Dan Betz, PhD, President of UCO makes his remarks

 Greeting remarks made by Representative from Oklahoma State Regents For Higher Education

 Special music performed by UCOMusical Theatre students was outstanding.

 A few of the graduates had decorated their mortarboards.

 Will approaches Dr. Betz to receive his diploma. 

 Will receives congratulation prior to official photograph.

 Will waiting for official photograph to be taken.

Graduate Will Watkins endures family photographs.

Graduate Will Watkins endures family photographs. 

 Graduate Will Watkins endures family photographs.

 Sara and Will

 Kelsey and Will

 Kelsey and Will

 After the ceremony we were driving around the campus to take photographs at special locations 

and we came upon Dr. Betz headed into his office and we got another photograph of him 

and will.

 It seems that on all campus there are certain locations that students want their graduation photographs taken and this is one at " The Arch ".

 It seems that on all campus there are certain locations that students want their graduation photographs taken and this is one at " The Arch ".

 Will Watkins

 It seems that on all campus there are certain locations that students want their graduation photographs taken and this is one at " The Gerald K."Cowboy" Barnett " plaque.

 It seems that on all campus there are certain locations that students want their graduation photographs taken and this is one at " The Gerald K."Cowboy" Barnett " Bell Plaza.

It seems that on all campus there are certain locations that students want their graduation 

photographs taken and this is one at " The Bell and The Campanile Central State College " 

plaque.

It seems that on all campus there are certain locations that students want their graduation 

photographs taken and this is one at " The Bell and The Campanile Central State College " 

plaque.

 The Gerald K."Cowboy" Barnett and Bell Plaza

 Will By the The Gerald K."Cowboy" Barnett Marker

Next we moved to the Nigh University Center for photographs in front of the UCO sign

and it was a lot warmer

 From left to right Sara, Will, Jamie and Steve 

 Grandpa Bill and Will

 Do Over Please.

 From left to right Beth Schmitz, Casey Schmitz, Will, Kelsey Schmitz, Alan Schmitz

 From left to right Beth Schmitz, Casey Schmitz, Will, Kelsey Schmitz, Alan Schmitz

  

Jamie, Sara, Will, Steve

Will and Kelsey

 Will and Kelsey

 Jamie and Will

 Jamie and Will 

Jamie, Will and Steve

 Will and Steve 

 Next we found our way to this excellent Mexican restaurant 

 Next we found our way to this excellent Mexican restaurant  (Ted's Cafe Escondido"

Waiting for our table  

Watching the process of making and baking tortilla while waiting for our table. The lady would 

throw a small ball of dough into the machine on the right and out would roll a nicely flattened 

tortilla ready for baking on the hot plate.

The lady remove finished tortillas for serving. They were delicious.

Cover of Commencement Ceremony book

Cover of Commencement  book

The following history of the University of Central Oklahoma is taken from the Cover of Commencement Ceremony book. For almost 125 years the University of Central Oklahoma's bedrock mission has been developing leaders for Oklahoma and the nation. The university began in 1890 when the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature created the Territorial Normal School. Its mission was to educate teachers for the one-room schoolhouses being built across the growing territory. The first students class had 23 members and met in the basement of Edmond's Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1893, they moved into the school's first building, Old North, still standing today.

Five name changes later, UCO is a beautifully landscaped campus that welcomes around 17,000 students each semester. It strives to meet the needs of those seeking a traditional campus atmosphere as well as the non-traditional student. Central also welcomes the role of being Oklahoma's major metropolitan university, purposefully combining the needs of the students with those of the larger area. No longer just an Edmond campus. Central stretches into Brick town with its Academy of Contemporary Music at UCO (ACM@UCO), Construction of the new CHK Central Boathouse on the Oklahoma River, classes starting in January in downtown Oklahoma City, the university's partnership with Tinker Air Force Base, working with entrepreneurs through one of three UCO Small Business Development Center offices--UCO works to meet the needs of the metropolitan area. Earlier this year U. S. News & World Report again ranked Central as one of the top colleges and universities in the nation. Central was the state's only higher education institute to be named in the "2014 Great Colleges to Work For" by The Chronicle of Higher Education.  As Oklahoma's third largest state university, Central has evolved into six colleges, including the Jackson College of Graduate Studies, all with nationally recognized programs including Nursing, Forensic Science, Accounting, Physics, Graphic Design and more. The university offers 114 majors for bachelor's degrees and 65 for master's. It's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Central remains an institution where learning comes first, where students enjoy personal relationships with faculty and staff who are committed to transforming lives.

I was so pleased and thank God for giving me life to see Will graduate. I am so proud of him and I pray God's continued watch care and blessing over his life. So until we meet again at my blog I ask you to remember That God Loves you so much that he sent His Son Jesus to live a sinless life and to die on the cross for each of us so that if we will confess our sins and receive him as our saviour we will live with Him in Heaven forever and I also love you.

Proud Grandpa Bill