MUNCIE, Ind. – In his last commencement address, the president of Ball State University told spring graduates Saturday that if they want to succeed in today's technologically-driven world they must continue to learn.

President John E. Worthen said jobs are changing as fast as technology, creating entirely new companies and employment fields while eliminating others.

"Change - much of it generated by technology - is now part of our social fabric, and if you and I are to survive, let alone succeed, we must be able to change - jobs, attitude, outlook, skills, location, viewpoints - practically every aspect of our lives," he said. "Those who succeed will be those who continue to learn and adapt to change easily and quickly."

An estimated crowd of 15,000 people, including 1,800 spring graduates, listened to Worthen's address on the Old Quad. Speaking from the Arts Terrace on a warm and partly sunny day, he admitted his last commencement ceremony as Ball State president was special.

"If I'm counting correctly, this is the 45^thcommencement at which I have officiated," Worthen said. "But this day is very special because this is the last time I will have the pleasure of participating in a Ball State commencement as your president.

"(My wife) Sandra and I will retire on June 30 after 16 wonderful years working with a very creative and committed faculty and staff, an excellent administrative team, and a very loyal and supportive Board of Trustees. And it will be the last time I will be able to say congratulations to a group of our graduates who will provide leadership for our nation over the next 50 years. I have great confidence in the new president who will begin July 1. I will look forward to observing as Ball State continues to meet the challenges of the 21^stcentury," he said.

Slightly more than 1,800 degrees were awarded, including 1,474 bachelor's degrees, 103 associate, 216 master's, and 16 doctorates and two specialist in education degrees.

An honorary doctor of science degree was presented to Marsha J. Casey, a 1979 Ball State nursing graduate and president of St. Vincent Hospitals and Health Services, Inc., of Indianapolis. She is the first Ball State nursing alumnus to receive an honorary doctorate.

Casey returned to her hometown of Indianapolis last year to assume her present position overseeing the largest local health network within the Daughters of Charity National Health System. The St. Vincent system includes hospitals in Indianapolis, Carmel, Elwood and Williamsport. The medical staff consists of 1,300 physicians and annual revenue totals approximately $600 million.

Previous to that, she was executive director and CEO of Vanderbilt University Hospital, Nashville, Tenn., a private, university-owned, 661-bed facility. She also taught nursing courses at Vanderbilt.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager