2011 Eastern Michigan University graduates speak of struggles on the way to a degree

Take Kelly Jordan, for example.

“I never thought I was going to graduate because I went through a lot of struggles,” said Jordan, a 22-year-old from Dexter who received a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from the School of Health Sciences.

During exam week in 2010, she experienced the unexpected death of her boyfriend, Michael Schomer. She said she also had endured health problems of her own.

Now she’s looking forward to being an administrator at a summer camp near Frankenmuth, overseeing programs and staff.

“My family and I are very proud,” she said.

The commencement, held in EMU’s Convocation Center, was divided into 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. sessions. The morning’s speaker, and recipient of an honorary degree, was Steven Tapper, partner and vice president of Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, in West Bloomfield.

Evita Emanuel will work for Purdue University after receiving her master's degree from EMU at spring commencement.

Ronald Ahrens | For AnnArbor.com

Robert J. Skandalaris, principal and CEO of the investment banking firm Quantum Ventures of Michigan, addressed the afternoon session.

EMU’s coordinator of academic records, Judy Massingill, said that besides the 2,300 spring graduates eligible to attend, an additional 500 “walkers”—candidates for degrees after summer sessions—were were invited, bringing the possible total to 2,800 in caps and gowns.

While some new graduates said they had no immediate job prospects, Evita Emanuel had written the familiar symbol of Purdue University, her next destination, on her mortarboard. Emanuel is taking her master’s degree in education along to Purdue after accepting a job as educational coordinator in the university’s residential life program.

The Detroit native spent the last two and a half years studying for her degree while also working full-time four nights per week, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., as an assistant manager at Wal-Mart, in Monroe.

“At first I struggled with the work and school,” said the newly engaged 28-year-old. “But it’s been a blessing for me that everything happened the way it did. If you work hard, it pays off—it really does.”