PEOPLE 126 GRADUATE STUDENT CAROLINA ADAMS sorts files in the international student services office Feb. 7. Adams began working in 200] as a graduate assistant for Dr Nicky Boyd, dire<tor of international student services, whereshe gathered supplies and books for international students. A.BEENE Assjstantship' leads to romisin After the ceremony ended, most graduates left Searcy and headed to new jobs or graduate schools in other parts of the country. Of the 1,300 graduates who remained at Harding in the fall, 45 worked as graduate assistants while they pursued master's degrees. Graduate assistant Kristi Lowery began her career on campus as an assistant in the American Studies office. She said she enjoyed her job because she was always busy. "My job is never boring, because something new happens every day," Lowery said. Lowery's job consisted of processing application papers for people who needed help being placed in graduate classes. "I have helped students with their business accounts and dealt with all education assistants and planned their schedules," Lowery said. Lowery graduated with a bachelor's in education and planned to teach in liMy job is never boring, because something new happens every day:' KRISTI LOWERY, GRADUATE STUDENT Texas a£ter she completed her master's of education in reading in the spring. On the other end of campus was graduate student Jacob Rotich. Rotich received his undergraduate degree in information technology in 2004 and graduated with a master's of business administration Dec. 18. "When I was an undergraduate, my major was information technology," Rotich said. "Then 1graduated and that summer I taught computer basics to high school students." While Rotich was finishing his master's degree, he worked as a graduate assistant in the Upward Bound office, a federally funded program that encouraged low-income high school Students work, study post graduation students to enter college. Rotich worked with the office's database, which organized the academic assistance given to students who qualified. "1 was a little nervous because of the new experience," Rotich said. "1 knew it would be demanding and challenging, but after a while you overcome it" He said he was glad he stayed at Harding to begin his work. "1 got to interact with professional people who are helpful and concerned with me," Rotich said. Chris Morton was another graduate assistant working to pay for his education.Morton said he did "odd jobs" for Dr. Cathie Shultz, dean of the College of Nursing. Morton said that although he did not have the most glamorous job, he was grateful fori!. "I do great things like make binders and shred papers," Morton said. "1 appreciate the opporturuty to be a graduate assistant. Without it, I could not pay for graduate school." STEFANIE SHEA
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