Robert W. Foster, executive vice president of Southeast Missouri State University, issued a challenge to students earning degrees Saturday.

"I have a charge to make to you," he said. "You have been exposed to cultural diversity as a student here. You now have an obligation to make a difference wherever your path may lead you. It is your responsibility as an educated person to lead out in this area that is so critical to our national well-being."

Foster, who will also be leaving the university this month, presented the commencement address Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center on the university's campus.

There were 451 undergraduates and 28 graduate students in the winter commencement ceremony.

Earlier in the day, Ed Leoni, associate professor of health and leisure, addressed the Honors Convocation on campus. Forty-five undergraduates and 15 graduate students were honored during the morning ceremony at Academic Auditorium. The honored undergraduates had earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a four-point scale, and graduate students had achieved at least a 3.8 average.

Kala Stroup, president of Southeast Missouri State University, welcomed the students and a crowd of more than 4,300 to the commencement ceremony.

"The activities today also give us an opportunity to honor one of the university's former presidents," said Stroup of Foster's retirement.

Foster served as the 13th president of the institution during the 1989-90 school year.

"You and I have more in common than most graduating classes," Foster told the group. "As I have it figured, if we make it through finals week, you and I will graduate and be out of here."

Foster will remain at the university, however, in a part-time capacity as executive director of the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that raises private funds for the university.

"I am pleased with the many things we have accomplished at this university, but we must continue to work for improvements," said Foster. "I want to make a point that was triggered by the recent death of my good friend and colleague, Ed Spicer, who was associate to the president and Affirmative Action Officer at Southeast."

Spicer was a Cape Girardeau native who graduated from Cobb High School, a segregated school, noted Foster.

"Spicer was not permitted to attend the university here," said Foster. "The situation at that time was that Spicer, because of the color of his skin, could not attend college in his hometown. He had to go to a college 250 miles away. Yet, Spicer was loyal to Southeast.

"We have moved light years from that point since then," said Foster. "In the mid-1950s we were able to admit blacks at Southeast, and in the early 1970s we developed an affirmative action program. One of the things I take pride in during my year as president is the establishment of the Cultural Diversity Task Force to promote the cause of cultural diversity on this campus.

"We may be light years ahead of where we were in those evil days of segregation, but we still have light years to go," said Foster.

Foster told the graduates that by virtue of being a college graduate, they will be more powerful persons.

"Recent studies have indicated that, on an average, college graduates earn $11,000 more per year than someone with a high school diploma," he said. "This is only an average, of course. Some of you will choose more lucrative careers than others. But, that average will still hold true.

"And, the power of a college degree is not just a dollars and cents power," he added. "It will go with you in every part of your life your work life, your social life, and your spiritual life. It even affects your physical well-being. Studies also show that college graduates live longer."

According to a recent national study, Foster said, "the four objectives considered most essential by college students, in order, are (1) being well off financially, (2) raising a family, (3) becoming an authority in a field of study and (4) helping others who are in difficulty."

"If you share these goals, you are not very different from the mainstream of American people either," he said.

"If you are to fulfill yourself through caring and compassion, you are going to have to think about that and make it a definite goal in your life," he said. "I do not believe that things happen by accident. I do not think we accomplish much unless we plan for it. I think that applies to caring and compassion as well as the other goals we have in life.

"Albert Schweitzer once said, `I know not which of you will find happiness, but I do know that those of you who find true happiness are those who seek and learn how to serve,'" said Foster. "This afternoon as I close, I wish you well, I wish you success, I wish you a life of good will toward all races and creeds. I wish you a life of service."

Tracy Fisher of Scott City headed the class of undergraduates at the commencement exercises, with a perfect 4.0 point average. Tracy's twin sister, Terri Fisher, finished third on the list, with a 3.94 average. Rounding out the top five were Susan Corvick of Scott City with a 3.95 grade point average, Anne Lang of Cape Girardeau with a 3.939 grade point average, and Dena Clarkson of Charleston with a 3.938 grade point average.