Illinois State students preparing for graduation have at least one shared experience. The closer they get to crossing the commencement stage, the more each will find their mind filled with memories of amazing moments spent building friendships at the University while gaining the knowledge needed to fulfill plans for their future.
Among those contemplating how quickly the years passed from arriving on campus for their first semester to leaving as a proud alumni are two students, Cameron Crone and Kerem Tasdan, whose stories were captured when they began their journey as Redbirds. Both are leaving ISU feeling grateful for their collegiate experience and confident they are ready to go forward.
Cameron Crone
Crone is headed into the workplace as he graduates with a computer science degree from the College of Applied Science and Technology. He has secured his first full-time job as a software engineer for State Farm Insurance Companies, a position he will begin June 10. He is already familiar with the work given it was there he completed the mandatory internship required of every graduate.
“The internship was a super valuable experience,” Crone said, noting he partnered on two different teams at State Farm and gained a breadth of knowledge as his work ranged from the company website to automated testing. The corporate experience was just one highlight of his two years on campus, which he maximized after transferring in as a junior from Sauk Valley Community College.
“It took a full semester to get fully adjusted,” said Crone, who postponed coming to ISU from his home in Dixon because of the pandemic. He had no doubt he would graduate as a Redbird, however, given he grew familiar with the campus while his sister attended. He transferred in with his best friend who became his roommate in an apartment off campus.
“It can be harder to get involved because you come in as an upper-level student,” he said, voicing appreciation for the transfer student events arranged by the University. His circle of friends grew through participation in a disc golf club, which was a perfect option before COVID-19 restrictions eased. He also quickly became immersed in the computer science program, which was an easy transition because of attentive advisors who made the move to ISU painless.
Crone appreciated the challenging classes, especially those dealing with concepts of programming languages and operating systems. He created a network of peers by joining the Association for Computing Machinery RSO and considered himself fortunate to work closely with faculty.
A recipient of a NexSTEM grant through the National Science Foundation, Crone gained
invaluable experience from his mentor, Dr. Kyoungwon Suh. A professor in the college, he prepared Crone to enter the workplace. Now that he is about to do so, there are mixed emotions.
“It went by so fast. I am going to miss the whole aspect of being in school, the routine of classes and the culture of being with students,” Crone said, adding that he has no regrets. “ISU did everything right.”
Read Cameron Crone’s ‘Newest Redbirds’ story from 2022.
Kerem Tasdan
Tasdan shares the sentiment. He appreciates all he gained as a Redbird and marvels at how quickly the years have passed since he moved from his home in Macomb as a freshman to study political science. He intensified his academic load by adding a second major in economics, a minor in Middle Eastern and South Asian studies, and a second minor in peace and conflict resolution studies.
“I have always loved history and then became interested in how countries have interacted throughout history during peace and war. I wanted to study the interaction between government and people, which led to my interest in behavioral economics,” Tasdan said, adding he is intrigued by international relations.
He was thrilled when former U.S. Ambassador Geeta Pasi was selected as the inaugural Donald F. McHenry Visiting Professor in Diplomacy and International Affairs. The opportunity to learn from her real-world experiences was fascinating for Tasdan, whose goal is to secure a job in the federal sector.
“Economic development is what I want to do, with a focus on public policy,” he said, emphasizing his interests are at the international level. That is understandable in part because his parents are natives of Turkey who immigrated to the U.S. before Tasdan was born. He will continue pursuing his dream as a graduate student at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. He has also secured a summer internship with the Mercury Public Affairs Group, which is a global public strategy firm.
Tasdan feels ready for these next challenges because of his ISU accomplishments. He was active in the Hewitt-Manchester Student Association and Diversity Coalition; involved in the Association of Residence Halls; and as a member of the SGA, led the committee that planned a student lobby day in Springfield. Tasdan played a role in revitalizing club tennis and volunteered with community initiatives such as the School Street Pantry.
“I felt I was part of something larger as I was able to apply what I was learning in class,” said Tasdan, who is grateful for the relationships he established with caring faculty. They provided the knowledge, guidance, and encouragement to continue pursuing his passion.
“I am humbled to have gained the confidence to chase my aspirations. They would not be achievable without ISU,” Tasdan said. “I can’t forget the people, the organizations, and the experiences that allowed me to be where I am today.”
Read Kerem Tasdan’s ‘Newest Redbirds’ story from 2020.
This story is one of a series of profiles on Redbirds who are graduating this May. For more information about how Illinois State is celebrating commencement, visit the Graduation Services website.
