CMU celebrates Fall 2024 graduates

Central Michigan University celebrated its Fall 2024 graduates with two commencement ceremonies Saturday. In all, 1,049 students graduated with 565 students receiving their bachelor’s degree, 402 students receiving a master’s degree and 31 earning a doctoral degree. For the first time, graduating students were given the opportunity to address their fellow graduates. They spoke at the request of CMU President Neil MacKinnon, to make commencement even more student focused.

In the 10:00 a.m. ceremony, graduating speaker Emmirsyn Stacy from Midland spoke about facing challenges and uncertainty with confidence.

“Confidence does not mean that you will have all the answers or know what the future will hold. Confidence means having trust in yourself and the courage to conquer anything that comes your way,” Stacy said. “The unknown is waiting for us. Let’s meet it with confidence, courage, curiosity and courage.”

In the 3:00 p.m. ceremony, graduating speaker Tyler Zimmerman from Big Rapids spoke about his experiences as CMU’s 104^th student body president.

“I learned that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about listening to the quiet ones,” he said.

In his first commencement address since joining CMU in November, President MacKinnon challenged graduates to do three things after earning their degrees: embrace change, be persistent and add value.

“You are equipped with knowledge, experiences and character shaped by your time at CMU,” MacKinnon said. “You have the strength to adapt, the resilience to persevere and the capacity to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Chair of the CMU Board of Trustees, Todd Regis, offered remarks to the graduates expressing the Trustees’ pride in the class of 2024. He explained how earning a CMU degree will change their lives in profound ways.

“Today, you have substantially increased the possibilities that lie ahead for your personal and professional life,” Regis said. “A college degree lasts a lifetime, and in a world where so many things change, your education remains constant and will grow as you grow in your career and community.”

For some earning their undergraduate degree, this was the first commencement ceremony they ever experienced. The COVID pandemic cancelled many high school commencements.

“For those of us who graduated from high school in 2020 this day is even more special,” Zimmerman said.

Saturday’s ceremonies also included a smudging by Joseph Sowmick from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. A smudging is a traditional ceremony that blesses a space by burning sage and other herbs. Sowmick added his congratulations to CMU’s class of 2024.

Commencement ceremonies for spring graduates are scheduled for Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Enjoy these select photos from Saturday's commencement ceremonies: