Diverse graduates to receive diplomas at Columbus State commencement

Campus News | Tuesday, December 13, 2022

As central Ohio’s most diverse institution of higher learning, a rich cross-section of the community will earn associate degrees at Columbus State’s 204th commencement ceremony.

Each year, the College accepts 75 students for the Honors Program. It provides high-achieving students with a more rigorous curriculum and heightened student and faculty interaction. It’s not always easy. Honors Program student Bsharah Hejazin, 19, will tell you that. But Hejazin says that no matter how tough it was, just going to class and connecting with fellow Honors Students made it worthwhile since some of them may be lifelong friends.

Bsharah is already enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a psychology degree, and he also aspires to work in the media industry.

Among military graduates is 27-year-old Shaneara Terry. She enrolled in 2017 and worked three jobs to help pay for school. During the pandemic, she enlisted in the Army which relieved a lot of her financial stress.

As a specialist in the Army, she plans to use her Associate of Arts degree to carve out a military career and begin work on a bachelor’s degree in Criminology, then later a law degree to become an Army law officer.

Terry is currently stationed in Germany. Not wanting to miss this special occasion. she has booked a flight from Germany to Columbus to attend commencement.

Some students begin working on their college degrees while in high school, thanks to Ohio’s College Credit Plus program. It allows students to take a college course and get high school and college credits at the same time.

One of those graduates is Sirrab Hamad. She will receive an Associate of Arts degree just a month after turning 16. And it runs in her family. Two of Sirrab’s older siblings are among the youngest known Columbus State graduates. Her Sister Danya and her brother David both graduated a few years ago when they were just 15 years old!

When Sirrab arrives at The Ohio State University in January, she will enter as a junior to study Bio-Chemistry Pre Med with hopes of becoming an anesthesiologist.

More than 1,400 graduates from Columbus State’s summer and autumn semesters will receive diplomas. The Commencement Address will be provided by Frederic Bertley, president and CEO of COSI. 

The commencement ceremony will be Friday, December 16 at 11 a.m. at the Celeste Center on the Ohio State Fairgrounds, 717 East 17th Ave., Columbus. A live stream of the event will be available at: livestream.com/ColumbusState/.

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