Cottey College's 125th Commencement

Cottey College president Judy Rogers presents Ashleigh Bryson, Nevada, her diploma. Bryson is one of 12 Vernon County students graduating from Cottey this year. -- Photos Ralph Pokorny/Nevada Daily Mail

"Cottey College is the only non-sectarian college in the country owned by women for women," Jari Askins, J.D., Lt. Gov. of Okla., above, told the 2009 Cottey College graduating class Sunday morning during Cottey's 125th annual commencement exercises. Askins told the graduates that leadership can only be learned from experience and that "all of the preparations in the world don't matter if you don't put them into action.