About 1,500 graduate from Norfolk State, Old Dominion

NORFOLK

Andre Predale Tynes had practiced walking across the gymnasium stage at Norfolk State University, his walking cane guiding him. He lost his vision 10 years ago to diabetes, but his disability never beat him and a few steps surely would not.

On Saturday morning at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall, Tynes reached for the railing when his name was announced. He stepped onto the staircase and stopped for a moment when his cane became wedged in metal halfway up. He wrenched it free and made it across the platform to a standing ovation.

Back at his seat to the right of the stage, the 42-year-old Newport News man was overwhelmed.

"I guess I got nervous," he said. "That did not happen at rehearsal."

Tynes was one of 562 students who graduated from Norfolk State. Nearly 1,000 received diplomas at two ceremonies at Old Dominion University on Saturday.

It was impossible to collect the many anecdotes from those people and chart the personal struggles they may have faced in just getting here.

However, a singular message pervaded the fall commencements at both

universities: Despite the challenges surrounding them, this was an exciting time.

Norfolk State senior class president Tiese Bright mentioned this in her address, as did Naomi Carp, alumna and chairwoman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in hers.

Perhaps Delores Johnson Brown, who helped break the color barrier at Norfolk public schools as one of the "Norfolk 17," showed that when she received an honorary degree during ODU's afternoon ceremony.

"Life is not a race," said Kathleen Parker, a syndicated columnist, during her ODU address. "Sometimes the road is not straight. Relax. Go out and do something creative."

Like many of the graduates, Tynes is trying to figure out what to do next. After losing his sight, he decided to go back to college. He's got a bachelor's in social work and now a master's in severe disabilities.

Tynes hopes to land a job counseling people with disabilities, helping them find jobs.

He said that, if nothing else, he wanted to be an example not only for the disabled, but for people confronted with their own sets of challenges.

Although he wrestled with his cane Saturday, Tynes said nothing would have stopped him from walking across the stage.

"I guess it's a sign of my independence," he said. "I wanted to prove that I can do anything."

Duane Bourne, (757) 222-5150, duane.bourne@pilotonline.com