Commencement exercises this Saturday
Student's speech surprise to parents
John Lewensten will be the student speaker at the summer commencement ceremony Saturday, Aug. 8, UW-Eau Claire.
Lewensten will graduate Saturday with a bachelor of arts degree in communication and journalism, with an emphasis on public relations.
"School's been a long haul for me and I think this will be a great way to end my work — my undergraduate work that is," he said.
Following graduation, Lewensten will work for Carmichael Lynch Spong, a public relations firm based in Minneapolis. He also plans to attend graduate school next spring, although he hasn't decided where he will be going.
For now, he's concentrating on his upcoming graduation and trying not to get too anxious about his speech.
"I'm nervous," he said. "I'm not sure yet at what point on the (nervousness) scale I am. Right now it's at a 3 or 4, but I'm when I get up to give my speech, it'll be a 10."
Lewensten wrote the speech as an assignment for an advanced public speaking class he had a few years ago. The speech went over well and when it came time for students to apply to speak at graduation, he decided to give it a try.
Although the details of his speech are known only to a few, none will be more surprised by the speech than his parents. They don't even know he's been chosen as the speaker and Lewensten's not breathing a word.
"Hopefully, they'll be happy," he said. "No, they'll be really proud.
"My parents have helped me a lot. I (got through school) a lot for myself, but I also did it for them."
And giving the speech is the perfect way to thank everyone, parents included, who has helped him work his way through his education, he said.
"It gives me the opportunity to share my feelings about what the school, my friends and family have done for me," he said. "Overall, my experience at UW-Eau Claire has been wonderful. Eau Claire has been really influential on my life and it's been a stepping stone for my future."
[News Bureau]
[Summer Times]
The Summer Times is published every Monday during Summer Session. Official Notices should be sent through the appropriate vice or assistant chancellor's office to the News Bureau by 10 a.m. Monday one week prior to publication. Students, faculty and staff may submit news items, art or photographs by mailing them to the News Bureau, sending e-mail to GRADINRL@uwec.edu or calling 836-4423.
Rebekah Gradinjan, Editor
Judy Berthiaume, Managing Editor
Kirsten Singleton, Writer
News Bureau
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Schofield 218
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
(715) 836-4741
Updated: Aug. 3, 1998
|
