USU Students prepare for Fall Commencement
By: Arie Kirk, Utah Statesman
More than 980 undergraduates will be the envy of people schoolwide as they make their final trek across campus as USU students on Saturday, Dec. 16.
The Fall Commencement of 2006 begins at 10 a.m. with the Academic Procession of graduating students and faculty from the Nelson Fieldhouse to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
The Commencement Ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m. in the Spectrum.
Sydney Peterson, chair of the commencement committee, said Fall Commencement is much smaller than the graduation held in the spring. Peterson said around 3,500 students graduate in the spring, while nearly 1,000 students will be graduating Saturday. Because of its size, she said they try to make it a more personal ceremony.
"We try to make it an intimate ceremony for those graduates," Peterson said. "It is much smaller, but it's still important for us to recognize the achievements of those graduating in December."
Janet Anderson, a clinical professor in the department of nutrition and food sciences in the College of Agriculture, will be speaking at commencement.
During the commencement ceremonies held in the spring, speakers typically come from institutions outside of USU. However, for the December ceremonies, they choose a faculty member from USU to speak, said Tim Vitale, assistant director of public relations and marketing at the university.
"We decided that instead of inviting an outside speaker, we would look inside and ask one of our great professors. We choose someone our students already know and love to give the graduates the final word," Vitale said.
Anderson was chosen because she is one of USU's most loved professors and is highly rated by students, Vitale said.
Peterson said, "She is a very accomplished professor. She just recently received the 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is a really prestigious national award that recognizes faculty that stands out among their peers."
The Fall Commencement of 2006 begins at 10 a.m. with the Academic Procession of graduating students and faculty from the Nelson Fieldhouse to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
The Commencement Ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m. in the Spectrum.
Sydney Peterson, chair of the commencement committee, said Fall Commencement is much smaller than the graduation held in the spring. Peterson said around 3,500 students graduate in the spring, while nearly 1,000 students will be graduating Saturday. Because of its size, she said they try to make it a more personal ceremony.
"We try to make it an intimate ceremony for those graduates," Peterson said. "It is much smaller, but it's still important for us to recognize the achievements of those graduating in December."
Janet Anderson, a clinical professor in the department of nutrition and food sciences in the College of Agriculture, will be speaking at commencement.
During the commencement ceremonies held in the spring, speakers typically come from institutions outside of USU. However, for the December ceremonies, they choose a faculty member from USU to speak, said Tim Vitale, assistant director of public relations and marketing at the university.
"We decided that instead of inviting an outside speaker, we would look inside and ask one of our great professors. We choose someone our students already know and love to give the graduates the final word," Vitale said.
Anderson was chosen because she is one of USU's most loved professors and is highly rated by students, Vitale said.
Peterson said, "She is a very accomplished professor. She just recently received the 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is a really prestigious national award that recognizes faculty that stands out among their peers."
This year's student speaker is College of Natural Resources valedictorian Colby Brungard.
Brungard was chosen by his fellow valedictorians to give the address.
Peterson said the seven valedictorians present their speech content to each other and then cast votes for the best address.
"They present to one another to give a sense of what they might share with graduates," Peterson said. "They vote and see which is best to represent them as valedictorians and which is representative of the graduates of the university."
Brungard said he looks forward to addressing the graduating students.
"I feel honored to be chosen to speak at graduation, because I barely graduated from high school," Brungard said.
"The basis for my address is a question asked by my mother at my high school graduation. The faculty speaker shared a story of a very talented graduate that he knew and the honors that she had received. My mom then turned to me and asked, 'But what about all those who are not honored, who get no recognition, who do the majority of the world's work?' I want to respond to that question and share some values that work no matter who or where you are," Brungard said.
There are six other valedictorians.
Valedictorian Daneal Francisco is graduating summa cum laude in the College of Education and Human Services. She has emphases in family and community services, consumer and human development and human development and family finance in the department of family.
Brandy Trygstad is valedictorian of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. She is majoring in German and Spanish and has a minor in linguistics.
College of Agriculture valedictorian Junko Nagatsune plans to return to Japan after graduation and work with dairy farmers as a sales representative. She is majoring in dairy science.
Carli Potter is valedictorian of the College of Science. Her degree is in composite mathematics-statistics education. She hopes to become a secondary educator.
Timothy Turpin is valedictorian of the College of Engineering. While at USU, he received the NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellowship. He has had an internship with a NASA research center as well.
After graduation, College of Business valedictorian Erik Lindstrom has an internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City. He then plans on attending Ohio State University, where he said he will get a master's in accounting.
Following the Commencement ceremony, a university celebration will be held in the Taggart Student Center, where a light lunch will be served. Tickets are required for attendance, but they are free, Peterson said.
For questions or more information regarding the Fall Commencement of 2006, contact the President's Office at 797-1162.
Brungard was chosen by his fellow valedictorians to give the address.
Peterson said the seven valedictorians present their speech content to each other and then cast votes for the best address.
"They present to one another to give a sense of what they might share with graduates," Peterson said. "They vote and see which is best to represent them as valedictorians and which is representative of the graduates of the university."
Brungard said he looks forward to addressing the graduating students.
"I feel honored to be chosen to speak at graduation, because I barely graduated from high school," Brungard said.
"The basis for my address is a question asked by my mother at my high school graduation. The faculty speaker shared a story of a very talented graduate that he knew and the honors that she had received. My mom then turned to me and asked, 'But what about all those who are not honored, who get no recognition, who do the majority of the world's work?' I want to respond to that question and share some values that work no matter who or where you are," Brungard said.
There are six other valedictorians.
Valedictorian Daneal Francisco is graduating summa cum laude in the College of Education and Human Services. She has emphases in family and community services, consumer and human development and human development and family finance in the department of family.
Brandy Trygstad is valedictorian of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. She is majoring in German and Spanish and has a minor in linguistics.
College of Agriculture valedictorian Junko Nagatsune plans to return to Japan after graduation and work with dairy farmers as a sales representative. She is majoring in dairy science.
Carli Potter is valedictorian of the College of Science. Her degree is in composite mathematics-statistics education. She hopes to become a secondary educator.
Timothy Turpin is valedictorian of the College of Engineering. While at USU, he received the NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellowship. He has had an internship with a NASA research center as well.
After graduation, College of Business valedictorian Erik Lindstrom has an internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City. He then plans on attending Ohio State University, where he said he will get a master's in accounting.
Following the Commencement ceremony, a university celebration will be held in the Taggart Student Center, where a light lunch will be served. Tickets are required for attendance, but they are free, Peterson said.
For questions or more information regarding the Fall Commencement of 2006, contact the President's Office at 797-1162.
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