The 870 excited new graduates of Middle Tennessee State University are “well-rounded, resourceful and have the incredible characteristics of being both tenacious and amazingly adaptable,” one of their professors told them Aug. 17.

Those traits, Dr. Michael Arndt said, will enable them to meet the challenges and grab the opportunities that await them.

“Everybody in this room believes in you. Believe in yourself,” Arndt, the outgoing 2012-13 president of the university’s Faculty Senate and MTSU’s summer 2013 commencement ceremony guest speaker, told students seated inside Hale Arena in Murphy Center.

Arndt, who is a professor of trumpet in the MTSU School of Music, praised the new grads for their perseverance in earning a university degree and encouraged them to continue to embrace education.

“I would like each of you to be a lifelong learner. It keeps life interesting and keeps you relevant,” Arndt said. “And, once you have found your way, consider giving back.”

Of the 870 accepting their degrees from MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee in the Aug. 17 ceremony, 665 were undergraduates and 205 were graduate students, including 183 master’s candidates, five education-specialist degree recipients and 11 doctoral recipients. Six graduate students also received graduate certificates.

For complete coverage of the ceremony, visit http://mtsunews.com/summer-commencement-2013.