MORGANTOWN — More than 1,300 students graduated from West Virginia University in December.

Graduates were honored Dec. 14 at a special convocation at the WVU Coliseum. Interim WVU President C. Peter Magrath was the keynote speaker.

Magrath spoke about five lessons he has learned and encouraged graduates to remember them as they travel through life. He advised students to be themselves, not to take their family or friends for granted, “strive for balance and the attainable,” give to others and “avoid the status trap.”

“The smartest approach to life and its challenges is to seek the good and the attainable instead of losing our way in an endless, frustrating search for the totally perfect,” he said. “We ought to be grateful for what we have and what we can have.”

Local residents graduating included:

• Boone — Eric Beeson of Bob White; Regina Robinson of Foster, and Lesley Ross of Ridgeview

• Lincoln — Blake Williams of Harts

• Logan — John Benson and Thomas Zamow, both of Logan; Steven Hall of Ethel, and Robert Queen and Wanda Watson, both of Stollings

• Mingo — Stephen Baisden and Jonathan Weaver, both of Williamson, and Danny Whitt of Red Jacket

• Wyoming — Matthew Adams of Pineville; Tammy Brinkley of Oceana; Christopher Gibson of Cyclone, and Mallory Walker of Mullens