Miranda Pederson/Daily NewsA student waves to the crowd Saturday during the Western Kentucky UniversityÕs commencement ceremonies at E.A. Diddle Arena

With a degree in elementary education in hand, new Western Kentucky University graduate Chelsea Scott hopes that doors will open for her as she embarks on a teaching career.

Scott will begin applying for jobs soon, but Saturday was a day for her and hundreds of others to celebrate the accomplishment of graduating at WKU’s fall undergraduate commencement ceremony at E.A. Diddle Arena.

“You work so hard for four years, it’s great to know that all your hard work’s paid off,” said Scott, of Russellville.

A total of 960 students, including 44 international students representing 13 countries, were recognized at Saturday’s ceremony.

WKU President Gary Ransdell took a moment in his remarks to emphasize the “commence” in commencement, speaking to the new graduates about the new phase in their lives that will begin after graduation.

“You’ll be called upon to make decisions and express your views on global events because those events will affect your lives,” Ransdell said. “Today is a testament to what you began and did complete.”

Ransdell also advised the graduates, as they moved out into the world, not to spend so much time looking for the perfect opportunity that it caused them to overlook the right opportunity for each of them.

At the end of the ceremony, Ransdell had the graduates commence what he said was a new tradition.

The newly minted graduates then waved red towels handed to them before the ceremony as a symbol of achievement, in a scene similar to a big moment during a WKU basketball game.

WKU Student Government Association President Colton Jessie of Bowling Green urged those graduating to take initiative in shaping their lives from this point forward.

“There’s so much life left to live,” Jessie said. “I know that no matter what you do next, it will be great, so write your own story, paint your own picture.”

New graduate Shannon Smith was recognized Saturday as the Ogden Foundation Scholar, earning WKU’s top academic honor.

The Portage, Mich., native, who earned a degree in accounting, was recognized as the top student in the Gordon Ford College of Business for her 4.0 GPA.

She carried the WKU banner to the stage during the march at the beginning of the ceremony and received a $1,000 award and plaque as she was recognized.

A member of the softball team at WKU, Smith will begin working next month at accounting firm Ernst and Young in Nashville.

“As you go out into the real world, you don’t want to just explore your limits, you want to transcend them,” Smith said.

For some graduates, Saturday was just the first of what are sure to be more ceremonies at WKU and other universities.

Arron Roberts of Indianapolis received a degree in management, but plans to continue at WKU as a graduate student in business.

Roberts said it wasn’t always easy during the five years it took to earn his degree, but he is satisfied about what he has accomplished.

“I’m proud to be part of the WKU family now,” Roberts said after the ceremony.