Nearly 24,000 diplomas to be awarded

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Nearly 24,000 diplomas will be awarded in the coming weeks as commencement exercises are held at Oklahoma's 25 colleges and universities and two technical branches. <br><br>Among

Tuesday, April 16th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Nearly 24,000 diplomas will be awarded in the coming weeks as commencement exercises are held at Oklahoma's 25 colleges and universities and two technical branches.

Among those scheduled to earn degrees are triplet sisters Holly, Heather and Heidi Sawatzky of Hooker, who will each be receiving bachelor's degrees in early childhood education from Oklahoma State University.

Ryan Baumwart of Arapaho will become the third veterinarian in his immediate family when he receives a doctorate in veterinary medicine from OSU. His sister and father are veterinarians, and he has a brother who is a second-year veterinary medicine student.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education said 23,754 students are scheduled to earn diplomas this spring. Of those, 12,041 are bachelor's degrees.

Regents said 3,725 students will receive master's degrees, most of those in education and business administration. An additional 505 students will earn doctorates and 661 will receive professional degrees in areas such as law and medicine.

There will be 6,822 associate degrees awarded, most in business, general studies and nursing.

Graduates range in age from 18 (Western Oklahoma State College, Altus) to 68 (Murray State College, Tishomingo), the regents said.