Local graduates from University of Saint Mary

Representing a student body of both diverse backgrounds and distinct futures, the Saint Mary Class of 2010 became USM graduates at Commencement held Saturday, May 8, in McGilley Field House on the University's Leavenworth campus.

The 2010 commencement ceremony recognized the university's 2010 graduating class of 317 -- a group composed of 154 undergraduate degree recipients and 163 graduate degree recipients. Members of the 2010 class hail from as far away as Kenya and the United Kingdom.

Amanda Lee Ehrlich, Fort Scott, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

In seeing off the graduating students, USM President Sister Diane Steele wished them well in their future endeavors.

"Today is a great day for all of us," she said. "We believe that what we have done is plant a seed that is yours now to value and cherish."

One of the highlights of the ceremony -- which began with a procession of graduates from the oldest building on USM's campus, Saint Mary Hall, to McGilley Field House -- was reflections from students who followed both traditional and non-traditional paths to USM and their degrees.

Catrina Osei, of Leawood, Kan., who returned to school in 2008 to finish her degree in applied psychology, praised Saint Mary and the education the school provided her.

"I hope I can make the same kind of impact on people in my profession that the faculty here have had on my life," she said.

Colin Dean Aldrich, of Kansas City, Kan., who earned his MBA -- and, earlier, his undergraduate degree -- from USM, told the crowd that commencement "is not an ending, but a beginning... this is more than an education. It's a sense of pride and accomplishment."

At the event, the university also honored several students and faculty members for their achievements in the classroom.

The University of Saint Mary is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of Saint Mary is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan., with additional locations in Overland Park, Shawnee, and Kansas City, Kan. Visit www.stmary.edu on the web for more information.