FROSTBURG — Kelly Elliton’s commencement speech rhymed for a reason.

Inspired by Dr. Seuss, the elementary education major wanted to inspire fellow Frostburg State University graduates with a tribute to the beloved children’s book author. “You have brains in your head; you have feet in your shoes,” Seuss wrote in “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” a commencement classic. “You can steer yourself in any direction you choose ...”

Before an audience of several hundred FSU family and friends, Elliton spun her own whimsical verse Monday morning, thanking professors, reflecting on the college experience and imagining a bright future for December graduates.

“Class of 2009, our learning does not ever end,” Elliton said. “For you have decided to stay in school for the rest of your life, my friend. Our love of learning will be shared each and every day. In pre-school, elementary, middle and high, students will listen to what you say.”

FSU President Jonathan Gibralter conferred bachelor’s and master’s degrees upon more than 350 students during the combined 11 a.m. ceremony, which took the place of two ceremonies originally scheduled for Saturday.

University leaders called off those ceremonies on Friday, as a major snow storm approached the region. More than a foot of snow fell in Frostburg over the weekend.

Among the graduates and in the bleachers Monday, there were lots of empty chairs.

“There are some people who simply ... could not be here today,” Gibralter said during his opening remarks, offering apologies for the hastily rescheduled event. “And I feel very bad for them. But you know what? I would have felt a lot worse if something tragic had happened to either them or their families. ... We’re going to make the best of this day.”

The event was the 135th commencement at FSU, which was founded in 1902. Elliton of the College of Education was one of three top students who gave commencement addresses Saturday, each representing a different college. Representing the College of Business was Emily Morrison, and representing the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was Deeannah Taylor.

Taylor, 22, a single mother of a 5-year-old daughter, said her road to graduation was challenging. “According to the statistics on teen mothers, I’m not supposed to be here standing in front of you all today,” said Taylor, of Glen Burnie, a double major in psychology and Spanish. “I was not even supposed to graduate from high school, let alone college.”

Motivated by her daughter’s “presence, smile, essence and laughter,” Taylor pursued college, in part, “to prove to myself and to countless others who doubted me, that although being a single mother meant that life would be harder, it was not over.” 

She plans to attend graduate school to become a clinical child psychologist. Gibralter encouraged graduates to bravely face the uncertain economy that awaits them as they enter the job market.

“In some ways it might feel like a blank canvas, which is exciting but can also be pretty intimidating,” he said. “... All of you have great aspirations, and each and every one of them is absolutely possible.”

Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com.