PSU Magazine Summer 1988

23rd Commencement • a serzes of firsts P ortland State University con– ferred its 50 ,000th degree dur– ing a ce remony that graduated the most students ever in the University's history. Some 1,400 graduates (o f more than 2,000 total for the current academi c year) crossed the Coliseum stage to receive degrees . In th e past, PSU held four separate commence– ment ceremonies each year but, beginning this June, only one ceremony will be held each spring. Among those graduating was the University's 50,000th degree reci– pient , Master of Business Ad- President Sicuro applauds PSU's 50, OOOth graduate Randy Smith. ministration (MBA) candidate Randy B. Smith. Smith, a full-time student, was a member of the first day-time MBA graduating class. Until two years ago, students in this program could only take evening classes. An ex– cellent student, Smith maintained a 3. 95 grade point average, was named " Graduate Business Scholar," and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Honor Society in Business Management. Like many Portland State students, Smith , 30, came to the University with years of work ex– perience behind him. A graduate of Carlton College in Minnesota, he had worked as a software engineer in that state, California and even– tually in Portland, Ore. "When the high tech consulting firm came upon bad times and I was laid-off, I decided I really wanted to pursue business and went into the MBA program ," says Smith, adding, "And I have been very pleased with the program." Describing the MBA as a "generalist degree," Smith says he has stayed fairly broad in his studies, but is particulary interested in a new field just offered at the University– strategic cost management. "There is reason to believe it may be one of the most important fields of the 1990s because it has to do with mak– ing production processes more effi– cient," says Smith. He is hoping this enthusiasm and new degree will land him a career with one of the big eight accounting m 8 firms or a large local business like Tektronix. Along with impressive business skills , Smith will be taking an ad– mirable attitude to his new employer. "The students I've met in the day MBA program are not what I would consider stereotypic MBAs out for the almighty dollar," ob– served Smith . "The quality of our education was important and we are out there, I would hope, to do good in addition to helping our companies run . " Smith found it hard at first to go back ·to school after having been an engineer on an engineer's salary, but fortunately his wife worked and he received financial aid. The table may soon be turned for Smith and his wife. Last spring she joined the MBA night program. "She saw how much fun I was having and decided this was the direction she wanted to try," says Smith. Once Smith is established in a new job his wife will go into the program full-time as a day student. With Randy Smith's excellent record at Portland State, his wife will not have an easy act to follow. Congratulations to Portland State University's newest Alumni, the class of 1988!