Stillwater, Oklahoma, native and mathematics and statistics senior, Martha Gipson has been chosen as the 2015 Orange Gown Graduate for the Oklahoma State University College of Arts and Sciences spring commencement ceremony on May 9.

Gipson will be graduating with two Bachelors of Science degrees in mathematics and statistics, both with honors, and a minor in French. Originally a biochemistry major, Gipson switched to a double major in mathematics and statistics because of her love of math.

She currently works as a statistics tutor at the Statistics Learning & Instructional Center (SLIC) at OSU, a position she’s held for six semesters. She also served as a supplemental instructor for a Calculus I course for four semesters.

Statistics and mathematics both require a passion and an understanding for numbers, so when deciding which area to focus on during graduate school, Gipson said it was a tough decision.

“Ultimately, statistics is what I will be happier learning about over the next five years as well as a lifetime career,” Gipson said.

Gipson has been accepted to graduate school with the Texas A&M statistics department. She will begin her studies in the fall, planning to finish her doctorate with the program.

For each spring and winter commencement, the Orange Gown Graduate wears a unique orange cap and gown during the ceremony, leads the CAS student processional to Gallagher-Iba arena, carries the college’s banner and is the first CAS student to receive his or her diploma onstage.

Unlike other colleges within the university at which students apply for the Orange Gown Graduate role, Arts and Sciences relies on nominations from faculty and advisers, so the chosen student is often surprised by his or her nomination.

Gipson was no exception, having been both honored and taken aback for being chosen from what she knows was an incredible pool of students. She is honored to be included with the list of previous CAS Orange Gown Graduates, including Rachel Angevine, fellow Stillwater native and Gipson's freshman year roommate who was the December 2014 commencement's Orange Gown Graduate.

If Gipson could offer any advice to current or future OSU students, she would tell them to get involved in research as an undergraduate, especially now that undergraduate research is becoming more publicized.

“My honors college research, in which I did my honors thesis in statistics and am finishing my thesis in mathematics, has allowed me to work with some incredible faculty,” Gipson said. “It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences, and now, looking back, I realize I have learned so much from it.”

For more information about the Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony on May 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Gallagher-Iba arena, visit OSU’s commencement web page.