FROSTBURG — Frostburg State University will celebrate the student achievements of its spring 2025 graduating class at the 166th commencement on May 22 in the Cordts Physical Education Center Main Area.
Ceremonies for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences and the College of Business, Engineering and Computational and Mathematical Sciences will be held at 9:30 a.m., and the ceremony for the College of Education and Health and Natural Sciences will be held at 2 p.m.
Commencement speakers will be Hailey Unger from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences; Taylor McCloskey of the College of Business, Engineering and Computational and Mathematical Sciences; and Abby Derham of the College of Education and Health and Natural Sciences.
Unger, of Rawlings, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in Child and Family psychology and a double minor in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Critical Gender and Sexuality Studies. She has been named to the Dean’s List nearly every semester.
Unger served as vice president of the Student Government Association for two terms, is the vice president of her administration in Delta Zeta Omicron Pi, the president of the Psychology Honor Society, Psi Chi and has been a reliable member of the President’s Leadership Circle and SafeRide. She also served as an undergraduate learning assistant and completed an internship in the Upward Bound office.
“Hailey is passionate about being an advocate,” said FSU psychology professor Jennifer Flinn. “Not only is her future career choice to serve others as a psychologist, but her current actions and participation demonstrate the care and concern she has for our current students, future students, and community around her right now.” Flinn continued, “In her classes, in her university activities, and even through her roles in the local community, she takes care and compassion and turns it into action and advocacy.”
McCloskey, of LaVale, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in Finance and Business Economics. She has been named to the Dean’s List every semester and earned the FSU Distinction Scholarship, the State of Maryland Senatorial Scholarship, the Maryland House of Delegates Scholarship and the Allegany County Opportunity Scholarship.
McCloskey is a student liaison for fall 2023 College of Business Speakers Summit, a society member for Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Eta Sigma, and an active member of the Economics Club and a projected Summa Cum Laude graduate for both majors.
“Taylor has demonstrated a strong commitment to high-quality education and community service,” said FSU associate economics professor and department chair Oleg Kucher. “In my 12-year career at FSU, I have never encountered a more hardworking student. Taylor goes above and beyond on every assignment and class activity, not just to achieve excellent grades, but because she genuinely cares about her education.”
Derham, of Westernport, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She has performed academically and clinically at the top of her class. Derham’s academics, coupled with her engagement in the nursing department and her extensive community service as an emergency medical technician at Tri-Towns ambulance service, George’s Creek Ambulance Service and Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department have led her to devote her time to caring for her rural communities.
“Ms. Derham embodies the highest standards of nursing practices,” said FSU associate nursing professor and director of the Traditional Nursing Program Audra Houser. “She demonstrates the ability to transfer knowledge to real world settings, which will make her a successful nurse. Most of all, Abby shows her patients empathy, kindness and compassion as she quickly develops trusting relationships with them.”
Tickets are required to attend commencement. For more information, visit the webpage at www.frostburg.edu/annual-events/commencement. The ceremony will also be streamed live online. For the livestream, visit FSU’s website at www.frostburg.edu on the day of the ceremony.