Frostburg State University Celebrates Achievements of Spring 2024 Graduates

This year's commencement speakers are Brianne Helmstetter from the College of Education and Health and Natural Sciences; Alivia Melius from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Sciences; and Daniel Baiyeshea from the College of Business, Engineering, and Computational and Mathematical Sciences.

Brianne Helmstetter

Helmstetter, of Frederick, Md., will graduate with a bachelor's in elementary/middle school education with a specialization in science. Her hard work has earned her a spot on the Dean's List since 2021, and in 2020, she received an Award of Academic Excellence from the Teacher Academy of Maryland. Helmstetter currently serves as the vice president of the Frostburg Student Education Association and is a teacher intern at Braddock Middle School. "Brianne has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to communicate effectively, inspire others and foster a sense of unity among peers," said Dr. Jodi Eirich, a professor in the Department of Educational Professions. "She is an open-minded critical thinker and a creative problem solver, which will serve her well when she is leading a classroom of her own." Helmstetter has also participated in the Ruby Payne and Project Learning Tree professional development workshops and the Zaner-Bloser handwriting course, and she has facilitated professional learning sessions for fellow students. In addition to her teacher internships, Helmstetter has worked as a substitute teacher and a youth soccer coach as well as organized a summer sand volleyball league for high schoolers.

Alivia Melius

Melius, of Saxton, Pa., will graduate with a bachelor's in English literature. She is an active member of several organizations on campus, including Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society, Student Government Association, Phi, Kappa Phi Honor Society, National Society of Leadership and Success and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Melius also serves as an office assistant for TRIO Student Support Services. Most impressively, however, is her travel abroad experiences in Tokyo to study intermediate Japanese language. Melius is visually impaired, and according to Dr. Kevin Kehrwald, a professor and chair of the English and Foreign Languages Department, "Reflecting on her experiences abroad, Alivia realized that she could utilize her unique perspective to inspire other students like her to see the world despite the differences they may feel hold them back." As an ambassador for the Knowledge Exchange Institute and student representative for FSU's Advisory Council for International Education, Melius provides guidance to fellow students searching for work, study or internship programs abroad. She plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh to pursue her master's in education.

Daniel Baiyeshea

Baiyeshea, of Gaithersburg, Md., will graduate with a bachelor's in business administration with a concentration in marketing. As a first-generation college student whose parents immigrated to the United States, he was always taught the importance of a good education. At FSU, Baiyeshea transformed the Marketing Club to the American Marketing Association (AMA) collegiate chapter and has had the opportunity to attend AMA International Collegiate Conferences in Chicago and New Orleans. He is also the director of marketing for FSU's Center for Advancement of Natural and Outdoor Experiences (CANOE), a member of the Student Business Leadership Council, a Student Alumni Ambassador and a member of the President's Leadership Circle. Baiyeshea also represented FSU as a student panelist for the University System of Maryland's Student Success Symposium. "He embodies the kind of FSU success story that faculty relish," said Dr. Carol Gaumer, Marketing and Finance Department chair. "His GPA is respectable, and his experiential activities are impressive. He is charismatic, articulate, a bright light for others and we hope his story will resonate with many." Following graduation, Baiyeshea will serve as a teaching assistant in China as part of FSU's collaborative program in economics and finance with the Hunan University of Technology and Business.

Tickets are required to attend Commencement. For more information, visit the FSU Commencement webpage at https://www.frostburg.edu/annual-events/commencement. The ceremony will also be streamed live online. For the livestream link, visit FSU's website at www.frostburg.edu on the day of the commencement.