Grad Guide 2010

Graduation Guide 2010

Singing her non-traditional heart out

Vanguard 2 | Graduation June 4, 2010

River Wylde is eager and ready to sing at this year’s commencement ceremony

Sarah J. Christensen Editor-in-Chief Virginia Vickery News Editor Theodora Karatzas Arts & Culture Editor Richard D. Oxley Opinion Editor Robert Britt Sports Editor Bryan Morgan Production Manager

Katherine Vetrano Vanguard staff

Graduation Guide

Marni Cohen Photo Editor Zach Chastaine Online Editor Kristin Pugmire Copy Chief Kristin Pugmire Calendar Editor Jae Specht Advertising Manager William Prior Marketing Manager Judson Randall Adviser Ann Roman Advertising Adviser Illustrator Kira Meyrick Associate News Editor Corie Charnley Production Assistants Stephanie Case, Justin Flood, Shannon Vincent Post-production Assistant Adiana Lazarraga Contributors Stacy Austin, Will Blackford, Bianca Blankenship, Leah Bodenhamer, Meaghan Daniels, Sarah Engels, Sarah Esterman, Amy Fylan, Courtney Graham, Natalia Grozina, Patrick Guild, Joe Hannan, Rosemary Hanson, Steve Haske, Carrie Johnston, Sara M. Kemple, Tamara K. Kennedy, J. Logue, James MacKenzie, Natalie McClintock, Daniel Ostlund, Sharon Rhodes, Tanya Shiffer, Wendy Shortman, Robert Seitzinger, Catrice Stanley, Amy Staples, Nilesh Tendolkar, Robin Tinker, Vinh Tran, Andrea Vedder, Katherine Vetrano, Allison Whited, Roger Wightman Photographers Drew Martig, Michael Pascual, Liana Shewey, Adam Wickham Copy Editors Noah Emmet, Amanda Gordon Advertising Sales Sam Gressett, Iris Meyers, Ana SanRoman, Wesley Van Der Veen Advertising Designer Beth Hansen Distributor Cody Bakken The Vanguard is chartered to publish four days a week as an independent student newspaper by the PSU Publications Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers, and do not necessarily represent those of the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. One copy of the Vanguard is provided free of charge to all community members, additional copies or subcription issues may incur a 25 cent charge. The Vanguard is printed on 40 percent post-consumer recycled paper.

Copyright © 2010 Portland State University Vanguard 1825 SW Broadway, Smith Memorial Student Union, Rm. S-26, Portland, Ore., 97201

Singing her non-traditional heart out Katherine Vetrano Pg. 3

To finally graduate...

Robert Seitzinger Pg. 4

Viking Voice Pg. 5

Retention at PSU: What’s normal for grads?

Robert Seitzinger Pg. 6

So you didn’t get into grad school Andrea Vedder

True to the fashion of the university itself, Portland State’s spring commencement ceremony will have a singer who is far from traditional this year.

River Wylde, who will sing “America the Beautiful” at the ceremony on Sunday, June 13, has a bevy of non-traditional experiences under her belt.

“I grew up on the road since I was four years old,” Wylde said. “We were in a traveling band called The Williams Family.”

Growing up in a car with her other three siblings and her parents playing in a pop band may sound a little Jewel-esque, but on the outside, Wylde looks like any other Portlander. She wears earth-colored clothes and jeans, and like her singing voice, she speaks in a crystal clear tone, with strong, confident eye contact.

This mix of confidence and informality has obviously helped her musical career as well. Interestingly, after Wylde and her siblings turned 18, they all went on to achieve extremely different careers in music.

“It’s a strange thing, how different the styles of music we chose are,” she said. “One of us is a gospel singer now, the other is in a Beatles cover band and the other is playing bluegrass.”

Wylde herself moved on to a few other bands before settling into the all women’s blues group Lady Blues, which was the only group of its kind in Arkansas at the time.

Singing at graduation won’t just be another gig for Wylde, though. The ceremony she will be performing at will be her graduation as well. Brought to PSU’s art studies program through a scholarship, Wylde found herself in a less academic setting than she was used to.

“This degree is especially important to me because before this, I was home-schooled until the fifth grade and that was it,” she said.

“I didn’t get my G.E.D. until much later on. I came back to school at 44.”

Since coming to Portland, school has taken a lot of her time.

Wylde’s eight-year-old daughter, Haylee, has been a big part of her life as well.

“It’ll be great to graduate because this is all she’s ever known—me in school,” Wylde said.

Wylde was pleased to hear that she would be performing “America the Beautiful” at the ceremony instead of the often traditional “Star Spangled Banner.”

“It’s a really beautiful song and this way everyone can join along with me.”

With a crystal clear tone and fabulous range, it’s likely the crowd will want to join in with this pop and blues singer. Some of her influences include Carly Simon and Bonnie Raitt, as well as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, she said.

When asked her musical influences, Wylde also mentioned drummer Buddy Rich. Wylde is not only a singer but a drummer as well, and has been playing drums since she was a mere seven years old.

After graduation, Wylde looks forward to getting back into the music scene. Before that, however, she intends to gain some muchneeded family time.

“I told my daughter, as soon as I’m done, we’re going camping!”

Without the right music, you’re not really graduating, you’re just walking.

There are only so many opportunities to wear headphones during life-changing events.

Graduation is one of them. Graduation, like any other important event, needs the perfect playlist from morning to night to keep the day running smoothly on all cylinders.

Katrina and the Waves – “Walking on Sunshine” This song’s message is twofold—on one hand, it’s supposed to represent feelings of elation, of supreme optimism. On the other hand, it’s one of the most annoying songs ever written, mainly reserved for really bad movie montages. No offense to Katrina or her Waves, but this song is best used as an alarm on a happy day, nothing more.

Photo courtesy of River Wylde

Wylde at heart: River Wylde is set to sing at this year’s commencement ceremony.

Pg. 8

2010 commencement speakers selected Vinh Tran Moving-in makeover Richard D. Oxley Pg. 11

Pg. 12

Making you look good Richard D. Oxley Pg. 13

Senior Vikings wave goodbye Nilesh Tindolkar Pg. 16

Andrew W.K. – “Party Hard” This timeless classic by expert songsmith Andrew W.K. is the best choice to play as you walk down the aisle, because it will likely give you that extra boost of confidence you need to pull off that really funny thing you planned to do.

Vitamin C – “The Graduation Song” Baz Luhrmann – “Everybody’s Free (to wear sunscreen)” C’mon, did you really think I could make it through this list without mentioning these two?

R. Kelly – “I Believe I Can Fly” What better song exists to deliver inspiration than this, R. Kelly’s magnum opus that was written expressly for a movie about Looney Tunes characters playing basketball with Michael Jordan? This is the perfect song to stick both arms out akimbo, look straight upward and twirl around slowly.

Pg. 9

Graduation not just for grads Tamara K. Kennedy

Vanguard Graduation | 3 June 4, 2010

NOW HIRING WRITERS Love to write? apply now! dailyvanguard.com

Arrested Development – “Mr. Wendell” Well, you’ve graduated.

Now you’re jobless and broke. What better sentiment to cap off the total graduation experience than a song penned about a penniless bum with a heart of gold? Enjoy the real world!

Vanguard 4|4 Graduation |4Opinion | News February January June23, 13, 4, 2009 2010

Rose Garden quick facts Address 1 Center Court Opened Oct. 12, 1995 Seating capacity Basketball: 20,630 Hockey: 18,280 End stage: Approx.

15,000 Construction cost Approx. $262 million Skyboxes 70, with 1,540 total seats Area Over 750,000 square feet on eight levels Height 140 feet from floor to ceiling Composition Over 48,000 cubic yards of concrete More than 8,800 tons of steel Over 29,000 cubic feet of glass Video scoreboard Four 15-foot by 22.5-foot screens Miscellaneous 32 public restrooms Over 650 television monitors LEED Gold certified

VikingVoice

To finally graduate…

Vanguard Graduation | 5 June 4, 2010

Graduation edition

A six-year student speaks of his experience at PSU Robert Seitzinger Vanguard staff

When I started at Portland State in the fall of 2004, there wasn’t a PSU logo to see all over campus. There wasn’t a Broadway Housing Building, let alone a sushi restaurant, video game shop or Chipotlé on campus.

My class of freshmen figured Lincoln Hall, Shattuck Hall and Science Building 2 would always be open.

When I started at Portland State, I felt a peculiar magic that most freshmen feel: I knew I was in college and that it was new, that it felt wonderfully different from high school. Granted, I had no idea that I’d be here for six years, working fulltime jobs and learning more about myself each term than I did in four years of high school.

When I started at Portland State, I had friends I spoke with that had started at Oregon State and University of Oregon. We compared our experiences, and we grew everdifferent as we matured through the years. They told me they enjoyed driving to Portland for the weekend to spend time on the PSU campus, because there was so much variety in the dining choices, in the live entertainment, in the city that was just a walk away from the South Park Blocks.

When I started at Portland State, I wasn’t much of a fan of sports organizations beyond the Portland

Trail Blazers. After just a few months, I loved being a Vikings fan.

I took a certain affinity to the sports programs, and the last six years have certainly showed a range of possibility come true: The men’s basketball team went to the Big Dance twice, the women’s golf team had a recordbreaking season and track stars qualified for national meets.

Along the way of my six-year education at PSU, I learned a lot more about life than I’d have ever thought possible.

It’s scary to step out into the real world now, but I feel ready. Portland State made me ready, and some of the best opportunities exist as internships and as avenues to real jobs that only a PSU graduate could know. The faculty here comprises instructors that know what it means to work in the real world, and they make sure their students know just what to expect in a way that blends academia and practicality in the best way possible.

The professors here from each discipline—from the business school to the English faculty to the engineering school—provide a sense of education that goes beyond the textbooks. They take what they know and help students find a thread that runs from each assignment into the post-graduation world. And it’s not so scary on the other side of college, because the faculty here has such an emphasis on reality.

That’s nothing I’ve heard friends who attended other undergraduate

programs talk about. We, as PSU students, didn’t come here expecting it—certainly, I had no idea just how much I was going to grow over my six years at PSU—but when we found the end of our education it was so enjoyable, so unique and so practical. It felt wonderful.

When I knew the end of my time at PSU was coming up, I knew that I had to look back on my time here before I’d know just how meaningful it was. Sports and being a Vanguard journalist was a big part of it, though a bigger part was always the diversity of our student body and the curricula I enjoyed (though I didn’t realize it was so unique until I talked to upcoming graduates of other schools).

When I knew the end of my time at PSU was coming up, I felt so grateful to know that this experience makes me more of a human being than I could have realized I’d be when I first enrolled six years ago. There have been a lot of memories made, a lot of songs played that will always make me think of finals week, of laughter with friends, of my favorite professors.

When I knew the end of my time at PSU was coming up, I felt ready for it. Sure, the four-year idea applies to most college students across the country, and I took six years, but it was worth living through.

I saw the new PSU logo get splashed across campus. I watched the Portland Streetcar get built and run across campus. I lived through

Notable PSU alumi

Allie Searfus

Nathan Buchholz

Q: What is your major?

A: I majored in Liberal Studies.

Q: What is your major?

A: Double major in French and Economics.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: I will be beginning the Graduate Teacher Education Program at PSU this summer and I plan on teaching internationally after that.

Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard

Robert Seitzinger

the hassle of walking across campus when the TriMet MAX Green Line was being built and enjoy riding it now. I saw the old PCAT building turn into the ASRC (Portland Center for Advanced Technology and Academic and Student Recreation Center, respectively).

I have seen some amazing faculty come in and others retire, always feeling smarter because the best professors at PSU have spent time in that real world we graduates are about to enter.

Through it all, I have no regrets in my choice to attend PSU. I am a Viking; I am ready for the real world; I am grateful for everything I’ve learned in six years.

Q: How has PSU helped prepare you for the “real life?”

A: For me, the preparation for “real life” is just beginning. Certainly I have learned a lot as an undergrad, but my graduate program is really going to provide me with opportunities to experience and learn about what I love.

Q: What is your advice to classmates?

A: Don’t be afraid to find what you love and make it happen. It’s not always easy, but if you try hard enough you will find your place.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: At the moment my plans are to use teaching ESL abroad programs as a way to travel. Given the economy’s current state, I’m not very optimistic about finding a real job right out of college, especially in Portland, so now is a good time to travel.

Q: How has PSU helped prepare you for the “real life?”

A: I don’t know, “real life” hasn’t really started yet…

Q: What were your favorite things about PSU? A: The cool, down-to-earth professors, the beautiful urban setting, the small class sizes, the proximity of food carts…

Q: What is your advice to classmates?

A: Take classes from tough professors, in the end you learn so much more.

Kara Kerpan

Aaron Hall

Q: What is your major?

A: My major is Political Science with a minor in Law and Legal Studies.

Q: How has PSU helped prepare you for the “real life?”

A: Preparations for “real life?”

Optimism towards my own future and pessimism towards world events and other people. I’d like to think some sort of ability to understand how and why people function the way they do.

How to successfully avoid interactions with canvassers. There’s the obvious stuff: accomplishing tasks before a deadline, confidence in my ability to write analytically about anything given that there is some research time.

I think one of the most interesting experiences has been the capstone.

Being insulated within the confines of the liberal arts department, I became used to a particular mindset and I don’t mean this in a political way at all.

With the capstone, I had to interact with people with different work ethics coming from different backgrounds and explain things and modes of thought that I took as givens and for granted.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: I can’t do anything with the degree I have, I have to sort of move forward in my education so I was going to go to law school, but I changed my mind recently after years of fixating on it. I want to get a masters in Public Administration and focus on non-profit work. I want to be the executive director of a non-profit, hopefully one that works with animals.

If that doesn’t work out for some weird reason, law school is still floating in the background. I am definitely not done with my education and want to continue going forward with at least a master’s degree.

Q: How has PSU helped prepare you for the “real life?”

A: Well, I was living a real life before going to Portland State so I am not sure that it has had to prepare me at all. No offense, its just that I was already living off campus, preparing to buy a house, working, etc. years before PSU entered into the equation.

Bree Schaaf Boyer: U.S. Olympic Bobsledder, 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver, B.C. Tony Curtis: Backup tight end for the Dallas Cowboys Carolyn Davidson: Creator of the Nike swoosh Paul De Muniz: Oregon Supreme Court chief justice Katie Harmon: 2002 Miss America Terence Knox: Actor Courtney Love: Actress and rock musician (never graduated) Holly Madison: Playboy model, reality TV star Jack Ohman: Editorial cartoonist for The Oregonian Pierre Ouellette: Science fiction author Bill Plympton: Animator

Q: Which capstone did you take?

A: PR for a non-profit.

Mike Richardson: Founder of Dark Horse Comics

Q: What is your advice to classmates?

A: Anxiety is a waste of time. Be thorough. Procrastination tests your mettle.

Lawrence Leighton Smith: Conductor and pianist Esperanza Spalding: Jazz musician —wikipedia.com

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently compiled a list of the number of job openings in different fields for graduate degrees by 2018. The following is the list of jobs and the total number of openings.

Postsecondary teachers 553,000 Doctors and surgeons 261,000 Lawyers 240,000 Clergy 218,000 Pharmacists 106,000 School counselors 94,000 Physical therapists 79,000 Medical scientists 66,000 Mental health and substance abuse workers 61,000 Instructional coordinators 61,000 —collegeboard.com

A look at the data on graduates at Portland State Robert Seitzinger Vanguard staff

Most classes at Portland State have a few of what administrators call “non-traditional” students, but the data suggests there aren’t very many traditional students, either.

The traditional assumption is that students attend a college for four years and then graduate.

However, non-traditional has become a polite way of saying “super senior”—and the PSU Office of Institutional Research and Planning doesn’t start keeping tabs on graduates until the five-year mark.

Data sheets are published on the OIRP website (www.oirp.pdx.edu) showing retention rates for various student classes, from first-time, fulltime freshmen to transfer students.

The sheets for incoming freshmen date back to 1991 and show the retention of cohort classes—or a select group of a type of student— that remain at PSU for one or two years, as well as how many graduate within five or six years.

There is no column for four-year students on these public data sheets.

OIRP Director Kathi Ketcheson said PSU has a positive number of first-year graduates on a national scale within six years, and that transfer student rates are also positive.

“From freshman to graduation is the traditional metric, and Portland State has a good average,” Ketcheson said. “Some leave, some don’t graduate, but we have a lot of numbers among graduates that transfer [to Portland State].”

The retention rate since 1991 for six-year graduates is around 30 percent each year, and five-year graduates typically amount to 25 percent of each graduating class.

For last year’s five-year graduates—those who began in 2004 and graduated in 2009—the figure is 24.7 percent. Six-year graduates (who began in 2003) resulted in 30.7 percent retention.

Ketcheson said research analyst Lina Lu generated a study that she presented at a national conference in 2007 regarding graduation and retention. Lu also presented in May regarding the rates—her study and others can be found on the OIRP website.

When presented with the data, students weren’t surprised about the five- and six-year standards OIRP uses.

“I don’t think Portland State has a large number of traditional students, the four-year mold of students that come in and graduate,” said graduating senior Stacey Conger.

“There are a lot of people taking night classes, online classes, anything

Retention Rate of First-Time, Full-Time Freshmen 80

Year 1 Retention Year 2 Retention

70 60 50 40 30

199 1 199 2 199 3 199 4 199 5 199 6 199 7 199 8 199 9 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08

Where will the jobs be for a graduate degree?

Retention at PSU: What’s normal for grads?

Percentage of Retention

Vanguard 6 | Graduation June 4, 2010

they can schedule around work to attend school as they strive to graduate, and that’s likely to mean most students have to work with the schedule school provides, even if that means taking more than four years.”

Conger added that she has primarily taken night classes to fit her work schedule. Curtis Dicken, who will walk in June but finishes class over the summer, agreed that class scheduling—among other factors—is why the four-year college model isn’t practical for Portland State students.

“I think mainly, the issue is scheduling,” Dicken said. “I think a lot of students aren’t living down there [on campus], so there’s not that typical sense of urgency, and taking a few extra years to graduate is pretty normal for students at Portland State.”

Whether you’ve been at Portland State for four years, six years, or longer, spring graduates will walk at the Rose Garden on June 13. Summer graduates will attend a commencement ceremony on August 14 in the Park Blocks.

Cohort Year Information graphic by Stephanie Case/Portland State Vanguard

Vanguard 8 | Graduation 8 |News February June12, 4, 2010

Where will the jobs be for a Bachelor’s degree?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crunched a few numbers and put together a list of the top jobs requiring a Bachelors degree that will have the most openings by 2018. The following is the list of jobs and the total number of openings.

Elementary school teachers 597,000 Accountants and auditors 498,000 Secondary school teachers 412,000 Middle school teachers 251,000 Computer systems analysts 223,000 Computer software engineer, applications 218,000 Network systems and data communications analysts 208,000 Computer software engineer, systems software 153,000 Construction managers 138,000 —collegeboard.com

So you didn’t get into grad school What to do in the face of shattered dreams

2010 student commencement speakers selected

Vanguard Graduation | 9 June 4, 2010

Paint Job Moving into a new place? Make it yours by giving the inside a new coat of paint.

Andrea Vedder Vanguard staff

If you, like thousands of other bachelor’s degree holders, applied to and were rejected by a good graduate degree program, it probably injured your pride. If you, like hundreds of other bachelor’s degree holders, applied to and were rejected from many graduate school programs, it probably made you nervous. And if you were banking on attending graduate school in the fall but were rejected by every program you applied to, it probably shook up your life—or at least your life as you expected it to be.

Don’t let it get to you. There are a lot of reasons why that acceptance letter never came, and one of them is that maybe you never really wanted it. You should want graduate school the way you want your mother to beat cancer, not the way you want a parking spot when you’re running late—mean it with all of your heart and approach the application process with motivation and a willingness to sacrifice.

If graduate school seemed like the easier, less terrifying “next step” and never appealed to you for truly academic reasons, or if you were worried that you couldn’t find a good job without a graduate degree, it’s likely that your applications reflected your lack of academic interest. No faculty wants a graduate student who isn’t genuinely and

If you have ever lived in student housing, you’re familiar with the ugly white walls of almost all dorm rooms. Those days are over.

Michael Pascual/Portland State Vanguard

Interior painting can be really fun. It’s also easy to do even if you have no experience.

There are lots of reasons to paint a room, and if you don’t have one you can just make one up—after all, you’re an adult now.

When you move into your new apartment make it your own, whether that means you give it a nice pastel blue to match your furniture or perhaps a light eggshell orange because you like how it reflects the sunlight.

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

Practice makes perfect: There are a plethora of study resources for students who didn’t do so hot on the GREs their first time around.

obviously dedicated to academia.

The ticket to getting in is convincing them that you are. Moreover, you must convince the admissions committee that you will be an asset to their school.

There are several ways to prove yourself as a student, and that is why graduate school applications have so many components.

Criteria for admission are broken down below, with suggestions for improvements:

1. G.P.A. A less-than-stellar G.P.A. will haunt you, but do not be ashamed.

You earned those grades, for whatever reasons, and if your grades are decidedly your “low point” then you should focus the rest of your application on showcasing your “high points.”

Understand, though, that you will need to make up for an unimpressive G.P.A. with excellent GRE scores, so take it seriously.

On the flipside, a perfect or nearperfect G.P.A. does not excuse you from disappointing GRE scores. Good grades and a bad exam score may imply that you are timely and attentive but that your advanced analytical and reasoning skills are lacking.

2. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Scores The GRE is a major factor in the admissions process. If your

GRAD continued on page fifteen

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

Chistian Aniciete

Christian Aniciete and Kimberley Mansfield chosen to represent graduating class Vinh Tran Vanguard Staff

Thousands of Portland State students, along with their friends and family, will visit the Rose Quarter for the spring commencement ceremony on June 13. Though the evening will be a special occasion for everyone in attendance, two students will have the opportunity to make their day even more memorable.

Student commencement speakers Christian Aniciete and Kimberley Mansfield will get the chance to share their experiences at PSU with their peers, families and professors, while showcasing the university in front of thousands of community members.

According to JR Tarabocchia, coordinator of commencement and student affairs outreach, the speeches will demonstrate this year’s commencement theme, “PSU Pride.”

makeup of the campus—one is a traditional student while the other is a returning student, Tarabocchia said.

“We don’t want to pick two exact same students; we want to think about how their message sounds and by whom it can be received,” he said. “So for Christian, his speech would resonate more with students who are younger. For Kimberley, those who are non-traditional students may relate more to her speech.”

Both speakers also scored points for their unique styles of delivery.

“Christian’s speech is very funny and his delivery is fantastic; he’s engaging and makes people laugh,” Tarabocchia said. “When Kimberley speaks, she reminds me of a parent telling their children a story; she would get really quiet and her delivery is very intimate and gives people chills.”

Aniciete is no stranger to the university community. For the past five years, he has been involved in organizing various campus events as part of his position as an event coordinator for the Student Activities and

“When Kimberley speaks, she reminds me of a parent telling their children a story; she would get really quiet and her delivery is very intimate and gives people chills.”

Christian Aniciete The students were selected out of a pool of 28 applicants, who were asked to submit a two-minute speech explaining why they’re proud to be a PSU graduate, Tarabocchia said.

“We judge [the candidates] according to the originality of the speech, their creativity and style in delivery,” he said. “We don’t want someone who’s going to be uncomfortable going up there.”

As students, Aniciete and Mansfield represent the diverse

Leadership Program. Aniciete said his new gig as a commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony is his way of saying farewell to the student community that he helped promote over the years.

“The main reason I applied [to be a commencement speaker] is because [when I’m] given an opportunity to promote PSU and speak about how positive my experience has been on campus, I grab it,” Aniciete said.

Kimberley Mansfield

Photo courtesy of Kimberley Mansfield

“The one thing I’m really proud of is making the most of my education, and PSU has equipped me with a lot of skills for the workforce.”

Kimberley Mansfield

In his speech, Aniciete hopes to share his love for PSU with the graduating class.

“What I’m going to talk about is my experience as a student, from waiting in line in Neuberger Hall at the beginning of the term to the difficulty of finding a parking spot on campus,” he said.

“Those [are] common experiences that I think all students can relate to.”

In addition, Aniciete said he wants to promote PSU pride, drawing from his experience as a student leader for Kaibigan, the Pilipino student associations and his experience helping to found the Programming Board, a student-led organization that promotes campus events and traditions.

“I feel like I have an emotional connection with this campus that nobody will understand because I literally live on this campus,” Aniciete said. “The one thing I’m really proud of is making the most of my education, and PSU has equipped me with a lot of skills for the workforce.”

According to Mansfield, her commencement speech is her way of saying a collective “thank you” to the people and the university that helped her forge her path towards law school. Next fall she will attend Willamette University, where she will focus on environmental justice and sustainability issues.

Mansfield, a returning student, is glad she decided to re-enroll after a two-decade absence from college. In addition, she takes pride in graduating summa cum laude with a B.A. in liberal studies

and a minor in psychology.

She said she is also the first person in her family to graduate from college, and therefore her moment on the podium is a family victory. Her parents will be in the crowd while she delivers her speech.

At PSU, Mansfield feels she is not alone in her college endeavor.

“There’s a lot of people with my story who are returning students, and I’m proud to have chosen a university that has so much diversity,” she said. “I think it’s a fantastic place for returning students.”

As a student at PSU, Mansfield immersed herself in campus opportunities. She took part in the Social Sustainability Network, which promotes and educates the university on sustainable practices, as well as the Pre-Law Society and the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Mansfield said she is grateful for the opportunities she has been given at PSU. “I think this is a very formative time in Portland State’s history,” she said. “A lot of things are taking off, we are doing a lot of conscious things on campus whether it’s in our curriculum or sustainability.”

According to the box office, 10,000 tickets have been distributed for the graduation ceremony. Following the student commencement speakers, Marian Wright Edelman, a life-long activist for children and the founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, will present the keynote lecture to the class of 2010.

Maybe you’re moving back in with your parents, in which case you may want to paint over that racecar wallpaper. After all, you’re an adult now.

Nothing changes the feel of a room like a fresh coat of paint. If you’re totally new to painting, your local hardware store can answer any questions. So have fun, freshen up and don’t forget to wash your brushes.

What you will need: Paint brushes Roller brush Paint tray Drop cloth Painter’s or masking tape Paint can opener Mixing sticks Washcloth How to: Put a drop cloth down to protect your floor or furniture from stray paint drops.

Use painter’s tape to protect windows, switches and trim.

Find some paint you like.

When you find the color you want, use a mixing stick to stir the paint.

Pour some paint into a tray for your roller.

Use the roller to cover large areas, and then brushes for more detailed painting.

Moving-in makeover

Vanguard Graduation | 11 June 4, 2010

Out of college—time to look like it Rug

Richard D. Oxley Vanguard staff

You did it. College is over and it is time to head out into the world, get that job and have a life. Sort of.

With the economy in the toilet, unemployment still hovering above 10 percent and vicious competition for any job that comes down the pipe, you will most likely head where a good number of graduates end up—back at Ma and Pa’s place.

Don’t feel bad. Even if you have to chill back at home for a while, it doesn’t mean you can’t at least live like you’re a bona fide adult. It’s time to tear apart your room and dress it up a bit. Yes, there is a time when all those teen idol posters and stuffed unicorns have to go away…well, maybe one unicorn can stay.

The Vanguard is here to help you with a few ideas to spiffy up a bit. If you do it right, when it does come time to move into your life, you’ll already be partly ahead of the curve. And don’t worry, you don’t have to have fistfuls of cash to do it—don’t forget to support your local second-hand shops and yard sales. You can hire a personal decorator when you do finally get that fancy job and extravagant apartment.

A new bed I bring this up first because it is a 50/50 shot whether or not you want to throw down some cash for

Average student debt

Walter was right! A rug can really tie a room together. It also can add a bit of personal expression, and if you end up moving into an old apartment—which isn’t uncommon—with wood floors, a rug can come in handy.

Artwork

Illustration by Kira Meyrick/Portland State Vanguard

a whole new bed. Maybe you have a nice quality bed back home—in that case, keep it. But if you need to, you can upgrade a bit, and not necessarily for too much.

Light it up Pick yourself up a nice floor lamp.

The light is a lot better than the radiating bulb in the ceiling, plus they just look nice.

Table You have a few options. If you like to have a workspace, a small table

can suffice for a humble desk or basic place to put a few books and pictures. A small coffee table is also another nice option. Throw some magazines and a book down and kick your feet up.

Chair If you’re going to kick your feet up on a coffee table, you may want something to sit in. Think of getting a small armchair—nothing huge like a Barcalounger, but a simple chair combined with a table can make your room something more than just a place to store yourself overnight.

It may have been fashionable to plaster your wall with posters when you were in high school, or maybe even in the dorms, but it would serve you well to take those down and hang a few framed pieces of artwork. Don’t worry, I don’t mean you have to become an art snob.

For example, if you really enjoy a certain band, put up a framed concert poster; if you love film, find a framed poster for one of your favorite movies; or maybe you are an art snob, in which case get a few nice photographs and frame them.

In a report released on April 26, the College Board examined who was most in debt among college graduates. The study was focused on the 17 percent of 2007–08 bachelorís degree recipients who graduated with more than $30,500 in education debt over the course of their undergraduate careers.

The average debt among dependent borrowers was $49,900, while the average among independent borrowers was $42,800.

In addition, the average debt for students that graduated from a public four-year institution was $45,100, whereas the average debt for students that graduated from a private non-profit four-year intuition was $53,200.

—insidehighered.com/ news

Plants Plants are just nice and put a little color in a corner, not to mention they help clean the air in the room. Even if you think you’ll just end up killing the thing, have no fear—there is a plant for everyone, and plenty of varieties that can hold up against your lack of gardening skills. A brief visit to your neighborhood nursery can help you further.

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Vanguard 12 | Graduation June 4, 2010

Graduation not just for grads

Writing résumés and cover letters Richard D. Oxley

Making you look good

Vanguard Vanguard Calendar | 13 Graduation | 13 Month June 4, Day, 2010 2009

Vanguard staff

Common mistakes of the job search Don’t sabotage your personal “brand” “I call this generation ‘looking for your 15 minutes’—everyone thinks he or she is going to be a star,” says Stephen Miles.

“But managing your personal brand is about building a strong foundation for your career beyond a 15-minute timeframe, both online and off.

Recruiters today begin our research on candidates by doing extensive web searches on people—including all of the social media hot spots. A misstep online, whether it’s a compromising photo or an immature status update, can be a career-limiting move for a candidate—before they’ve even stepped onto the game board.”

Don’t be afraid to jump on an “out of the box” opportunity “Everyone understands how difficult the job market is for the class of 2010,” says Dr. Nate Bennett. “No one will question an ‘out of the box’ career move, such as teaching or working for a nonprofit; the economy actually provides great cover for you to do something you want to do. But remember that an unusual move will become part of your story that needs to compel future employers to want you on their team. You need to be able to tell a great story about how this experience was an investment you made in yourself.

As a result, you’ve become a better buy for your next employer.

To the extent you can do that, you will see this first move pay an ROI across your entire career.”

Don’t be afraid to take the job “no one else wants” “People constantly misunderstand the risk/reward ratio in opportunities like this,” says Dr. Bennett.

“This might mean working at an ‘offlabel’ company, or in a less attractive place to live, or at a company known for destroying people’s spirit—but still teaching a lot about an industry. Or there may be an opening at a company that is struggling or broken in some way. This can be an opportunity to find something and fix it, and your reputation will be enhanced.”

—Nate Bennett and Stephen Miles, authors of the book Your Career Game: How Game Theory Can Help You Achieve Your Professional Goals

Four faculty and staff members to be recognized at commencement

-Professor Kenneth Peterson will receive the George C. Hoffman Award for Faculty Excellence

Tamara K. Kennedy Vanguard staff

Graduation is not only a time to recognize students’ achievements, but also a time to honor those who have helped propel them towards their degrees. Four members of Portland State’s faculty and staff will receive awards at the 2010 graduation ceremony.

Awards for Faculty Excellence will be given to professor Kenneth Peterson, as the George C. Hoffman Award winner, and professor Kenneth Ames, as the Branford Price Millar Award winner.

In addition, Mary Beth Collins, director of Student Health and Counseling, will receive the Mary H. Cumpston Award for Service to Students, while associate professor Rose Jackson will receive the Kenneth W. and Elise W. Butler Award for Library Faculty Service.

“The celebration of excellence and achievement at graduation is a wonderful way for the entire university to recognize the accomplishments of faculty, staff and students,” said Jackie Balzer, vice provost for student affairs.

Honors for accomplishments such as leadership, teaching and service reinforce and celebrate the university’s most important values, she said.

Winners receive a large plaque and $1,500 for personal use, research or to attend conferences.

In addition, George C. Hoffman winners’ pictures are displayed in Hoffman Hall, according to J.R. Tarabocchia, coordinator of commencement and student affairs outreach.

Tarabocchia feels that the winners are those who have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to PSU to help the university become what it is today.

Each of the award winners has spent numerous years at PSU. Collins has worked at the university for 29 years, Ames for 26 years and Peterson for 24 years. Jackson has worked at PSU since 2003, according to the commencement program.

These awards are similar to lifetime achievement awards, Tarabocchia said.

PARTY |

-Professor Kenneth Ames will receive the Branford Price Millar Award for Faculty Excellence

Adam Wickham/Portland State Vanguard

Mary Beth Collins

Kenneth Ames

Photo courtesy of Portland State University

Kenneth Peterson

“Very high-achieving people are nominated,” said Charles Burck of the Office of Academic Affairs.

Nominations for the awards recipients opened in the spring.

A month after submission, full nominations packets are sent out that ask for letters of support and other relevant information, and committees are formed to select the winners, according to Burck.

Burck then makes sure that all of the packets are complete for review. Afterwards, the Office of the Dean of Students forms the review committee for the Cumpston award, while the library forms the Butler award committee, Burck said.

The Millar and Hoffman nominees are reviewed by past award winners.

from page sixteen

event and getting them to come to participate in the ceremony.

“We work with Office of Degree Requirements very closely, because a student has to be actually finishing their degree in order to walk in the ceremony,” he said. “So we work to make sure that communication gets sent out to students, that they know they are close to graduating.”

As part of this process, Tarabocchia also answers questions that students and family members have about the event itself.

“We have a big population of firstgeneration students here, and they don’t know what to expect; their families don’t know what to expect,” he said. “We help them understand that this is kind of a big party. It’s a big deal. It’s important.”

Students generally ask questions about the specifics of the event, Tarabocchia said, but sometimes

Faculty/staff awards presented at 2010 graduation

they end up taking on an entirely different tone.

“Other times we get really funny questions like, ‘Where do I get my toga?’” he said. “Well, it’s not a toga, it’s your cap and gown—your regalia.”

Another humorous question that Tarabocchia recalled came after he sent out an email regarding graduating with Latin honors.

“So that’s if you’ve earned cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude,” he said. “And some student wrote back: ‘I don’t know why I’m getting this, I’m not Latin.’”

The other side to the commencement coin is the actual event-planning aspect.

“That’s calling to get contractors to make sure we have a sound system, to make sure we have chairs for the platform party,” Tarabocchia said.

Photo courtesy of Portland State University

-Mary Beth Collins, director of Student Health and Counseling, will receive the Mary H. Cumpston Award for Service to Students -Associate professor Rose Jackson will receive the Kenneth W. and Elise W. Butler Award for Library Faculty Service

Drew Martig/Portland State Vanguard

Rose Jackson

Commenting on her goals at PSU, Jackson said she strives to provide excellent service to PSU students, staff and faculty. She credits her colleagues with doing the same.

“It’s an honor to have been nominated and certainly a joy to have been selected as the Butler award winner,” Jackson said.

Jackson thanks the Butler family for establishing the Kenneth W. and Elise W. Butler Award that reflects the importance of information management and the role of librarians in the academic setting.

“Both the Butlers were exceptional librarians,” she said.

The students of another award winner, Professor Ames, know him as diligent, wise, rigorous and

This logistical side of the planning process is where the smallest detail can make or break the event. Flowers must be ordered and delivered within specific times, programs must be created, printed and delivered, ramps to make certain portions of the arena wheelchair accessible must be rented and a closed captioning service must be implemented.

The minutest of details—down to how the staff at the Rose Garden Arena should tear the admission tickets—are planned beforehand to ensure the guests have an enjoyable experience.

For Tarabocchia, planning the commencement ceremony doesn’t just begin in the weeks or months prior to the ceremony. “It’s an ongoing thing,” he said.

“Conceivably, somebody could start this only a few months beforehand, but that would be their full-time job, and this isn’t the only

utterly dependable, according to the commencement program.

Ames is the recipient of this year’s Branford Price Millar Award for Faculty Excellence, which recognizes faculty members who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, instruction and public and university service.

Collins, the Cumpston award winner, is retiring this June. She is an innovator, mentor and leader with deep understanding of the link between health and student success.

She also manages a multimilliondollar health care operation, according to the program.

Cumpston’s ability to identify the individual and university needs— and to match those needs with creative and effective solutions— was a gift, according to the program.

Peterson, the Hoffman award winner, is nationally regarded in the area of teacher supervision and evaluation and has affected the work of thousands of teachers.

The late George C. Hoffman, a dean and professor of history at PSU, cherished contributions to the university in instruction, university service and scholarship done in the spirit of humanism, civility, and collegiality with dedication to students and loyalty to PSU, according to the program.

thing I do at the university.”

In true Portland State form, Tarabocchia has incorporated sustainable practices in planning the commencement ceremony.

In years past, organizers ordered decorative flowers in line with the school’s colors that had to be flown in from afar. Now, local flora is used to decrease the ceremony’s carbon footprint.

The “greening” of commencement does not stop there. According to Tarabocchia, there are now 1,000 fewer commencement programs made, and the ones that are printed are made with post-consumer recycled paper. Further cutting the paper-related waste of the ceremony is the move to electronic means of communicating with students about commencement.

“The post office may not like it,” Tarabocchia said. “But we’re saving paper.”

If you are graduating soon, getting a job is most likely on your mind.

What should also be on your mind are the impending difficulties the current job market and economy poses. You have to compete against the existing work force, other graduates and plenty of unemployed workers.

It may seem dismal, but don’t worry. Believe it or not, there are plenty of tools available to you to help you appear to be the best candidate on the block. One such tool is the helpful folks over at Portland State’s own career center, who provide everything from workshops, personal counseling, tips on snagging that job and more.

Consult them when working on your résumé and cover letters.

The Vanguard is also here to help you with tips to help make your résumé and cover letter shine. But don’t stop here, check into the career center, spend some serious time with your résumé and cover letter, and don’t stop searching. In the end, looking for a job is as much work as having a job.

It is important to note that the following examples are very basic and should not be followed too strictly. Remember to make your cover letters and résumés unique to you and the job you are applying for.

There is also other information you may want to include such as course work you completed, papers you’ve written, skills and talents, etc., as well as a variety of different formats you can use.

Cover Letter

2

I currently seek to expand my skills as a widget designer and feel that Amazing Job, Inc. would be an excellent place to do so. You should know that I am awesome and can display a variety of awesome skills and abilities such as designing, widget control and surfboarding. I also have extensive knowledge of the Robocop movies that I feel helps me with my widget designs.

My skills are apparent through my accomplishments at previous jobs and during my time at Portland State University. I have managed the PSU widget design club and personally handled the widget management system at the Portland Bank while working as a teller.

Amazing Job, Inc. has been at the forefront of the widget market for some time. Your recent release of the iWidget and the Widgetbot have revolutionized the market. I particularly like the marketing strategy of throwing widgets at random people on the street to increase awareness.

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss the position further. Please contact me if you require any additional information. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Alex Murphy

Alex J. Murphy

8 7

Your Information

8

Thank them and show you would like to discuss the job further

Signed name and printed name

Date

Résumé 3

University and degree earned

4

I was told about the current job opening for a widget designer by Joe Schmoe of Amazing Job, Inc. and am greatly interested in the opportunity. I have admired Amazing Job, Inc. for some time and am familiar with your amazing products.

6

9

Your information

Job field you are applying for

4

Why you are applying. Mention a person you have in common or mention how you heard of the position

10

5

Promote yourself. Don’t just reprint your resume. Talk about your skills and tell how you gained them.

Make it relevant to the job you are applying for

11

University and degree earned, you may include areas of study or certain coursework you completed

6

Include your knowledge of the employer. Say what you like about them and their company and why you would like to work for them

12

Communicate your experience.

This includes your previous jobs and what you did there, but also internships or school projects

Tips from PSU’s Career Center 1. Customize your résumé. Make your résumé match the job you are applying for. Some employers search for key words pertinent to the job. Many employers may also just skim your résumé looking for experience, etc. so make sure important information pops out and is set right up front in your résumé.

2. Make your résumé relevant. Employers want to see applicable experience, whether you were paid for it or not. Don’t forget your class work, projects, papers, etc. that relate to the job you are going for.

3. Typographical and grammatical errors are important. Such errors on your résumé or cover letter turn off employers more than you think. Always read your résumé aloud and have three other people read it as well.

9

Education Bachelor of Arts in Widget Design, Portland State University, Portland, Ore. Associate of Arts degree, Portland Community College, Portland, Ore. Related coursework: -Widget production -Computer widgets -Statistics -Community development

11

3

Dear Ms. Manager,

5

Alex J. Murphy 1245 Graduate Lane Funkytown, OR 97212 503-876-5309 youremail@provider.com

Objective: Widget designer at Amazing Job, Inc.

June 16, 2010

Jane Manager Manager Amazing Job Inc. 1245 Kick Ass Drive Funkytown, OR, 97212

7

2

10

1

1245 Graduate Lane Funkytown, OR 97212 503-876-5309 youremail@provider.com

Cover Letter 1

Very basic Résumé

Senior Capstone: Third world study of widget equality and use. Studied widget use in third world countries and identified weaknesses in widget utilization. Found solutions and created campaign strategies to inform and actively correct widget deficiencies.

Experience Portland Widget Co. May 2010–July 2010 Design intern -Designed widgets -Met with customers -Ran studies on widget efficiency -Conducted design meetings and set goals

12

Stumptown Widgets September 2008–October 2009 Front desk receptionist -Answered phone calls -Delivered memos -Brewed excellent coffee -Took orders and emailed receipts to customers Coffee Town USA September 2007–September 2008 Barista -Brewed coffee -Provided customer service -Ran cash register -Handled bank deposits and bookkeeping

GRAD |

from page eight

test scores don’t impress you, why would they impress the faculty of a major university? Unless you thoroughly prepared for this exam and believe that you could not possibly earn a higher score, take it again. Treat it as a final exam for the entirety of your undergraduate experience.

There are GRE Prep courses available, but they are often expensive and somewhat unhelpful.

A tutor may be a better use of your money, but a study guide and some motivation are probably your best bets. Several companies (including ETS, the company that produces and manages the GRE) publish study guides; these guides cover all the information you need to know for the exam and include practice tests. If you give yourself a few months to study and practice, you have every reason to believe that you will kick the GRE’s ass.

3. Research Experience Plenty of applicants have little to no research experience, and this is an excellent area in which to gain a competitive advantage. Volunteer your time to assist the professor of your choice with their research project. E-mail professors you liked at your home institution, or branch out and contact faculty conducting research you are interested in at other universities. Don’t forget: They don’t owe you anything, and when someone responds to your inquiries or offers you a position, be grateful.

4. Recommendations Recommendations are key. A university admissions office does not make acceptance decisions.

The faculty of the department you

Vanguard Graduation | 15 June 4, 2010

are applying to makes them, and these professors would like to see good recommendations made by their colleagues. With that in mind, seek recommendations from professors in your field of study. If you have significant work or research experience, consider requesting recommendations from your managers there. Make your requests in person, and consider supplying your professors and mangers with a copy of your personal statement. Give them twice as much time as you think they need.

Top paying jobs in America Forbes Magazine recently produced a top ten list of the most profitable jobs in America. What did they find? Take a hint— become a doctor.

1. Surgeon

5. Personal Statement This might be the most important component of your application. Your personal statement explains why you are interested in your field of study and why you are an excellent fit for the program you are applying to. This is not the place for you to explain your poor grade in MATH 256. Be positive.

Begin drafting early, as your essay should be edited several times and may help guide your recommendations. Typos are unacceptable—make certain there are none.

2. Anesthesiologist 3. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon 4. Orthodontist 5. Obstetrician and gynecologist 6. General internist 7. Physician 8. General practitioner 9. Chief executive 10. Psychiatrist

—Forbes.com

6. Résumé This is not a particularly important component of your application, but it contextualizes you as an applicant and sometimes your work experience is relevant to your field. Examples include business or non-profit internships and U.S. government programs such as Teach for America, the Peace Corps and Americorps (the last of which has rolling deadlines throughout the year—a perfect

Liana Shewey/Portland State Vanguard

GRE practice tips: Kaplan Test Prep can help those hoping to go onto grad school.

opportunity for a graduate school hopeful without a plan). This is also the place for you to show off that you have held a job since you were 16 and to prove that you know what it means to work hard for what you want.

It’s not the end of the world to be rejected from graduate school. It

might even be a blessing. But if you decide that graduate school is really what you want, and you’re ready to show it, prepare to dedicate one or two years of your life to improving your application and your chances of acceptance. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even get into your first-choice school. It is absolutely possible.

Senior Vikings wave goodbye

Diede

Rogers

Enneking

Faucher

Scoggins

Stinner

Johns

Trubachik

All photos courtesy of PSU Athletics

Lewis

Wollman

Farewell Vikings: Senior tidings from the class of 2010.

Portland State athletics programs lose big names with senior class Nilesh Tendolkar Vanguard staff

With every passing year, Vikings sports teams must say goodbye to a class of graduating seniors. We rounded up a few that are departing and asked them to share some of their experiences at Portland State and their hopes for the future.

Senior track and field star Nick Trubachik, who was named the Field Athlete of the Meet at the Big Sky Championships, majored in Environmental and Health Studies with a GPA of 3.3. His most memorable times at the Park Blocks include travelling to the coast with friends and conquering mountains.

“I have many fond memories at PSU—it is tough to pick just one,” he said. “My fondest memory at PSU would have to be the times that I just hung out with friends in our spare time. We all have the struggles of school, sports, work and others.

So it was nice that we were all able to make time to kick back and relax.”

He said it was difficult to pinpoint just one favorite class, but instead said it was a tie between Environmental Health with Tony Uliano and Anatomy and Physiology with Brad Buckley.

“Those two classes taught me a lot of information that I will forever use in my life,” he said.

Trubachik found that maintaining the balance between academics and athletics was a

What it takes to organize the graduation ceremony Robert Britt

difficult task at first, but one that he eventually conquered.

“Being expected to do the same work as other students, though you may be competing for the weekend over in New York, was pretty tough,” he said. “Trying to get a headstart on homework is the key in being able to succeed. For some people I can see this as being tough. I myself have put things aside until the last moment.”

Trubachik credits his success to his parents and his coaches Seth Henson, Ronnye Harrison, Chad Perry and Keba Tolbert, and he hopes to contribute to the program in the future.

“My plans for the future are to finish up my requirements for getting into physical therapy school,” Trubachik said. “Then after I am done with that schooling I plan to get into the athletic field. I also look forward to helping the PSU track and field program as it grows every year. Any time and support that I can give to this program I will do in a heartbeat. The team consists of some very talented individuals and I would like to see them accomplish what I have if not more.”

Senior basketball standout Claire Faucher, who helped her team to the program’s first appearance in the Division-I NCAA Tournament, majored in business administration and logistics management with a 3.4 GPA. Faucher says that a daily planner helped her develop her time management skills that allowed her to successfully balance academics and athletics.

“I live by that thing,” she said. “[I] would literally have been lost without it.”

Faucher said her plans include going to George Fox University in the fall to begin working on her MBA. She was also just hired as the school’s assistant women’s basketball coach, so Portland State’s all-time leader in assists will soon be assisting young stars in developing their skills.

The Portland State women’s soccer team will sorely miss the services of its seniors, who helped the team win the Big Sky regular season championship in the fall.

Dolly Enneking, the Big Sky Conference’s reigning Offensive MVP and Golden Boot Award winner, believes that good time management is essential to find a balance between athletics and academics.

“In being so busy with soccer, you realize that all of your extra time counts and you work hard to get your school work done any time you can,” Enneking said. “I think the mandatory study hall [my] freshman year really helped me figure out a good schedule.”

Enneking, Portland State’s alltime leading goal scorer, majored in Business Management and Human Resources and said her favorite class was Contemporary Leadership with Pam Tierney.

“She was a wonderful professor,” Enneking said.

Enneking says her father was instrumental in helping her reach the stage she is at today.

“He has always pushed me to be the best I can be on the field, in the classroom, and as a human being,” Enneking said. “Because of him I have learned never to settle for less than my best. He has been an amazing role model and motivator for me.”

Vanguard Graduation | 16 June 4, 2010

Enneking plans to attend law school and go into corporate law or human resources.

Defensive MVP and team captain Cris Lewis, who majored in Physical Activity/Exercise, said her favorite class was her senior capstone.

“I had the opportunity to volunteer at a local Boys and Girls Club, and I met some amazing kids,” Lewis said.

Lewis’s most cherished moments include spending time in the Park Blocks and winning the conference championship.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my last year at PSU: Winning the Big Sky Championship ring with my fellow seniors,” she said. “It’s been something we’ve wanted as a group since we were freshmen.”

Lewis plans to play professional soccer in the future.

“Basically, wherever I can play, that’s where I’m going,” she said.

Fellow team captain and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection Nathalie Wollmann said that making school a priority and making a realistic study schedule and sticking to it were the secrets to her academic success.

Wollmann earned a 3.92 GPA in the School of Health and Community Health. Her future plans include going back to her native Canada and pursuing a Masters degree in Education or Child Advocacy Law. Softball student-athlete Brandi Scoggins said winning the conference title was the highlight of her stay at PSU. “I was able to strike a balance between athletics and academics by making sure I got my stuff done no matter what it took—even if I had to procrastinate ‘till the last night,” she said.

Her teammate De’Chauna Skinner majored in Health Sciences and said that she always tried to make time for fun, and not just softball and school.

Softball pitcher Tori Rogers, who majored in marketing, said that her fondest memory at PSU was when the team defeated No. 16 DePaul.

“It was one of the best games I’ve ever been a part of,” Rogers said.

Teammate Becca Diede, majoring in Environmental Studies, said, “My favorite class was Social Work with Professor Briggs. It was so much fun!

Everyone should take it.”

Golf senior Stephanie Johns, who majored in Business Management with a 3.3 GPA said, ”My favorite class was Power Soul and Spirit of Business. I feel that good time management and picking the most important things that need to be done is important.”

Her fondest memories at Portland State include wandering around campus on the rare sunny days and the early happy hour at Paccini.

Commencement—the biggest party in town

Vanguard staff

How do you plan the commencement ceremony for the largest graduating class in Portland State history?

That is the question J.R. Tarabocchia, coordinator of commencement and student affairs outreach, faced this year when planning the June 13 event that will award over 5,000 students their degrees and certificates.

An experienced commencement organizer, Tarabocchia is in his third year as the maestro behind the scenes of the graduation ceremony, and the enormity of the event seems only to encourage him.

“It’s definitely the best job on campus,” he said. “To see people at their best is a very rewarding feeling.

Commencement signifies four, five, six, seven or more years of work,

money and time. Everybody’s in a great mood, and the energy in the arena is just awesome.”

Organizing and assembling the many parts that go into commencement, though, is no easy task. From reserving the Rose Garden Arena and arranging for the delivery of more than 2,000 chairs and 10,000 programs, to serving as a liaison between the university and

the graduates and their families about what they can expect, Tarabocchia juggles his duties with relative ease.

According to Tarabocchia, there are two sides to organizing Portland State’s commencement ceremony. First, there is the process of educating the students about the

PARTY continued on page twelve

Top earning jobs straight out of college What degrees and job fields are making the most straight out of college?

1. Investment banker Around $112,000 2. Software Developer Around $84,000 3. Actuary Around $79,000 4. Engineer Around $72,000 5. Network systems administrator Around $69,000 6. Internet marketer Around $67,000 7. Financial analyst Around $66,000 8. Pharmaceutical representative Around $59,000 9. Web designer Around $47,000 10. Nurse $47,000 —earnmydegree.com