 |
COURTESY PHOTO -- One Accord
Christian Henel,
Student Commencement Speaker
|
Senior speaker chosen
By Meghan Williams
Flat Hat News Editor
The student speaker for Commencement 2003 was chosen yesterday. From a group that started with 22 individuals vying for the opportunity, senior Christian Henel was selected to speak on behalf of the Class of 2003 at Commencement Exercises May 11.
According to Vice President for Student Affairs Sam Sadler, the process for selecting a student graduation speaker begins with an application and short speeches which all competitors present. After their initial presentation to the selection committee, the group was reduced to five finalists.
"The five finalists were just superb," Sadler said. "This is the best round of finalists we've seen."
Last night, each of the finalists presented a full-length speech to the selection committee. According to Sadler, this provided an opportunity both to listen to the developed ideas of the possible speakers and to see how they presented their speeches.
"We're really looking at the speech and the way it's delivered," he said. "We look for the speech to have substance. ... Is it a thoughtful speech, does it hang together well?"
The selection committee consists of both students and faculty members. According to Sadler, the students on the committee are seniors who are not themselves competing nor close to any of those who are competing, as well as some graduate students who will graduate with the Class of 2003. In addition to Sadler, the committee is rounded out by three faculty members.
Sadler said that Henel will likely make adjustments to his speech before Commencement and that he is allowed to change it almost completely if he decides to do so.
Henel was not available for comment for this article.
|