2008 Woodie Awards
View print edition front page as a PDF
News
Commencement speakers announced
By Marisa Kendall on 4/24/08
On Sunday, May 11, Ken Paulson, USA Today editor-in-chief; Sylvia Earle, National Geography oceanographer and explorer-in-residence; and Vernon Jordan, senior director of Lazard Limited and Lazard Group, will address this year's graduating class as the 2008 AU commencement speakers. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer will speak at the Washington College of Law commencement ceremony May 18.
Members of the class of 2008 will each attend one of the four separate ceremonies in Bender Arena, depending on from which AU school they will graduate. One speaker will address each of the ceremonies, and the hope is that the graduates will find their speaker relevant to their specific degree, according to Acting Media Relations Director Maralee Csellar.
"We try to get speakers that fit with each of the ceremonies," Csellar said.
Paulson, one of the founders of USA Today, will speak at the School of Communication and the School of International Service commencement ceremony at 4:30 p.m. One of the first in his field to advocate the publishing of online news, Paulson is the current editor of the print and online editions of USA Today, according to Csellar's April 21 press release.
With his experience at covering international issues, Paulson will be able to relate to communication and international service majors, Csellar said.
Jen Shuman, a senior graduating from the SOC, said she is excited someone as well-known and successful as Paulson is speaking at her graduation. Shuman said she hopes Paulson addresses current events in his speech and provides inspiring words about the graduates' futures.
"Hopefully, he can reassure me that I do indeed have a future," she said. "Maybe he'll offer me a job."
Elissa Robinson, a senior graduating from SIS, said she had hoped her speaker would be someone more connected with that field.
"I also know that last year the speaker was a journalist as well, so maybe a balance between the two, since the ceremonies are together, would be nice," she said.
Members of the class of 2008 will each attend one of the four separate ceremonies in Bender Arena, depending on from which AU school they will graduate. One speaker will address each of the ceremonies, and the hope is that the graduates will find their speaker relevant to their specific degree, according to Acting Media Relations Director Maralee Csellar.
"We try to get speakers that fit with each of the ceremonies," Csellar said.
Paulson, one of the founders of USA Today, will speak at the School of Communication and the School of International Service commencement ceremony at 4:30 p.m. One of the first in his field to advocate the publishing of online news, Paulson is the current editor of the print and online editions of USA Today, according to Csellar's April 21 press release.
With his experience at covering international issues, Paulson will be able to relate to communication and international service majors, Csellar said.
Jen Shuman, a senior graduating from the SOC, said she is excited someone as well-known and successful as Paulson is speaking at her graduation. Shuman said she hopes Paulson addresses current events in his speech and provides inspiring words about the graduates' futures.
"Hopefully, he can reassure me that I do indeed have a future," she said. "Maybe he'll offer me a job."
Elissa Robinson, a senior graduating from SIS, said she had hoped her speaker would be someone more connected with that field.
"I also know that last year the speaker was a journalist as well, so maybe a balance between the two, since the ceremonies are together, would be nice," she said.
Be the first to comment on this story