Graduates of Oregon State University’s 154th commencement ceremony share their thoughts, favorite memories and advice for the classes of students to come just before entering Reser stadium, the morning of June 17.

“I am super excited,” said bioengineering major Carter Doyle.

Doyle’s classmates in bioengineering, Nd Obasi and Jordan Porter, said they felt underwhelmed as graduates lined the streets of campus before the ceremony began.

“It feels like all of a sudden it was just here and just happening on a random day,” Porter said. “I feel like it’s going to be settling in in a couple of weeks.”

Porter and her peers said that for those at OSU next year to explore the elevator in Gleeson hall as a hidden gem of campus.

Kristina Peterson, student athlete and human development and family sciences major, said she is excited to graduate and “hop out and be done” after five years.

“My favorite memory is definitely … senior night,” Peterson said. “We packed the whole thing (Gill Coliseum) and we were against Utah, which is a huge school, so being able to beat them and just end my senior year like that, it was incredible.”

Damia Kirsch, a biology pre-veterinary major, said graduating will be her favorite memory from OSU.

Tyler Quinones, a biology pre-veterinary major and first generation college student said that just being here with her family is what makes the moment exciting.

Edouard Boyzo, a forestry major and first generation student, said he liked being outside – per the forestry major – and was excited about commencement.

“I’m excited, I’m a first generation student so I am definitely excited to be done,” Boyzo said.

Biochemistry major Sarina Grant embraced the dichotomy of emotions that graduation brings on.

“(I am) super excited and also really bitter sweet to be leaving all my friends and we are all going different places but super excited to see where we all end up,” Grant said.

Raegan Bedingfield, a design and innovation management major and OSU cheerleader said she is most excited about getting out into the real world.

Bedingfield’s college of business peer, Rob Brinkly, who majored in marketing and business administration, shared Bedingfield’s excitement as well as offering advice for the classes to come.

“Network, that is the biggest thing you need to do while you are in college,” Brinkley said. “Just meet people, as many as you can.”

Brinkley, who held the college of business sign leading undergraduates in the college in the walk to the stadium, attributes this opportunity to networking during his time in college.

Sheridan Thompson, agricultural sciences major and Ecampus student said even if you do your degree online it can be good to meet your peers through coming to campus when you can.

“It was really cool to see the online community and then come here and see everybody,” said Corissa Pierson who majored in fisheries and wildlife, also as an Ecampus student.

Emily Steinman, a fisheries and wildlife major, expressed that research was her favorite memory at OSU.

“I actually was able to do a research project on crows and get results that were actually meaningful and that can actually contribute to science,” Steinman said. “I thought that was really cool that we got so many opportunities to do research and things like that.”

Best friends Allyson Erickson and Kamryn Moore, said that girls nights filled with doing homework are a favorite memory from their time at OSU.

Erickson majored in math and Moore majored in both math and innovation management.

“Keep working hard and go Beavs, baby,” Moore said as advice for the upcoming classes of students at OSU.

The excitement was not limited to those graduating though, as their families and friends waited for the ceremony apart from their graduates.

Mother of a student graduating in the college of business, Lori Spencer, shared excitement for this “huge milestone.” Spencer also encouraged graduates of the class of 2023 to, “go big.”

Chris and Sandy Doss, the family of a student graduating with a masters in public policy, shared the importance of this commencement as their daughter’s undergraduate graduation had been during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Congratulations,” the two said to the class of 2023, “well deserved.”