More than 500 students became graduates on Dec. 14 at the Multi-Purpose Events Center, about 200 less graduates than last spring’s commencement in May.

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer and his wife Jacklyn Spencer were guests of honor at the ceremony. Midwestern State has special arrangements with the board of education in Antigua allowing students from the country to pay in-state tuition rates.

Stacia Haynie, professor at Louisiana State University and alumna of MSU, gave the commencement address. Haynie spoke about her time as an English teacher at Hirschi high school, asking all the graduating education majors to stand up.

“You are absolutely critical to this enterprise,” Haynie said, acknowledging the education students as she mentioned they would not be acknowledged enough in the future.

“You have achieved something 93 percent of the people on this planet have not been able to do,” Haynie said. “Success is far more a function of hard work than native intelligence. You are among a very privileged group.”