Schuler addresses JC grads at Saturday commencement

Texas land developer/designer and economist, H. George Schuler, on Saturday, will be the keynote speaker at Jamestown College’s commencement ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. in the Civic Center.

This will be a day for the land developer to come home. He was a JC grad in economics and finance and went on to become one of the great movers and shakers of the 20th Century in the Lone Star State he and his wife Gayle call home.

Schuler has been instrumental in the development of the Collin County Regional Airport at McKinney, and in 2007 was the engine behind Lake Texoma Jet Center, a world-class aviation center near resort destination Lake Texoma.

He is a designer of space and land-use. Many of his holdings are commercial areas with beautifully planned green spaces. Like so many great thinkers of the past, those who design the places where we go to eat out, where we go to buy the newest fashions, go to see fine art in galleries, where we buy our equipment and art supplies, shape how we feel about those experiences. With Schuler and Texas though, he not only designs the beautiful experiences but also the utilitarian by adding airports close by so getting from one area to another was somewhat more convenient for Texans.

Schuler will be joined by other trustees of the college, administrators, faculty, students, staff and speakers as more than 180 students will be receiving their bachelor of sciences and bachelor of arts degrees. Five graduate students will receive their masters degrees in education as well.

JC’s bright orange and bold black are always represented in the hoods, which are placed over each graduating student’s robe prior to receiving their degrees. Honors students wear additional trappings marking their achievements during college. The regalia harkens back to Medieval times and every color worn by the professors has meanings connected to their majors and the colors of that graduate school. The length and design of the sleeves, hood shape and its length have meaning, as does each style of cap. The audience has a program that explains the color meanings, sleeves and hood differentiation.

The baccalaureate begins at 10:30 a.m. and commencement at 2:30 p.m. A reception in the exchequer room will follow commencement, hosted by JC’s president and his wife, Dr. Bob and Donna Badal, as well as the academic dean and his wife, Dr. Gary and Myra Watts.

Congratulations go out to all the students.

If anyone has an item for this column, please send to Sharon Cox, PO Box 1559, Jamestown, ND 58402-1559.

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