The Quinnipiac Chronicle
4|News
April 12, 2017
University announces commencement speakers By JEREMY TROETTI Staff Writer
It’s a moment four years in the making, a moment that induces both excitement and fear in the minds of students. Graduation: The gateway to the true adult world. Though all ceremonies differ between universities, there is one thing they all have in common: all ceremonies feature distinguished speakers aiming to share their experiences with those who are about to enter the workforce. According to a university press release, speakers for this year’s commencement ceremonies include, CBS medical correspondent Jonathan LaPook; Sikorsky Vice President for Communication Tyrone “Woody” Woodyard; Sleepy Anesthesia Associates President Juan Quintana, Yale University economics professor John Geanakoplos; founder and CEO of The North Face Hap Klopp; executive director of Camp No Limits Mary Leighton; former NPR host Michele Norris, chief nursing officer at Community Health Center Mary Blankson, Vice Chairman of O&G Industries Greg Oneglia; and Justice Richard Robinson of the Connecticut Supreme Court. So what exactly does the university look for in a commencement speaker? Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Karla Natale explained that the university looks for specific qualities in the speakers they select. “(The university looks for) someone that represents the majors and/or fields of work and study that are part of the specific school(s) they will be speaking to,” Natale said. “Someone that has life experience to draw from when making their remarks to the (graduating) class.” Senior political science major Corey Scott described what he, as a graduating student, looks for in a commencement speaker. “I’m essentially looking for something that combines a bit of nostalgia with a fresh, straightforward reality check about what happens next,” Scott said. Natale also explained that the speakers for commencement ceremonies are based upon suggestions taken from deans and other faculty, as well as students. Scott who is part of the College of Arts
and Sciences student council, explained his part in the process of choosing the commencement speaker for the ceremony for CAS students, as well as how these students assist deans within the school with selecting a speaker. “I am the Student Commencement Speaker Selection Committee Chair for the College of Arts and Sciences. The committee is part of a larger body – the CAS Student Council, that serves as an advisory body for the deans of CAS,” Scott said. Scott believes that it is important that students have a role in selecting who will be speaking to them as they prepare for the next stage in their lives. “Students should have a larger role in selecting the commencement speakers,” Scott said. “I think it’s fantastic that Dean Smart allowed the council to form a Student Speaker Selection Committee, and I think this is something that should be replicated across all schools within the university.” Natale explained the benefits the university hopes the commencement speakers can have on the students. “They often provide celebratory, motivational and informational remarks that help to mark this milestone in our students lives,” Natale said. As for what she hopes students will get out of their respective commencement addresses, Natale hopes that the students will receive memorable and inspiring advice from the speakers. “Hopefully (the students will receive) a positive and celebratory message as they begin the next chapter of their lives,” Natale said. While many students may not even be aware of who their respective commencement speakers are, Scott believes that it does matter who makes that address to the students. “It does matter who your commencement speaker is,” Scott said. “These speakers leave an indelible mark on each of our lives, so it is important that we have a speaker that is relatable, inspiring and realistic.”
Undergraduate speakers
College of Arts & Sciences
Health Sciences
JOHN GEANAKOPLOS
MARY LEIGHTON
Professor of Economics at Yale University
Executive Director of Camp No Limits
Geanakoplos received his B.A. in Mathematics from Yale University in 1975, as well as his M.A. in Mathematics and Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University in 1980, according to the Yale University website. He started as an Assistant Professor in Economics at Yale University in 1980 and became a professor in 1986. In 1996-2005 he was the Director of the Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics. He was awarded the Samuelson Prize in 1999 and the Bodossaki Prize in economics in 1994.
Leighton graduated with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy (OT) from the American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts in 2000, according to the No Limits Foundation Website. She worked in a private pediatric practice as an OT in Main for seven years before Camp No Limits was created. She specializes in working with individuals who have upper extremity limb loss and provides training and adaptations to everyday activities. She developed an exercise program for Camp No Limits, which helps develop stretching and strength training practices. When not participating in Camp No Limits, she practices OT in a variety of places such as hospitals and nursing facilities.
Nursing
School of Business
MARY BLANKSON
HAP KLOPP
Chief Nursing Officer at Community Health Center
Founder and CEO of The North Face
Blankson oversees a multitude of nursing services across the Community Health Center (CHC) network, which includes primary care, healthcare for the homeless and school based health services, according to the Weitzman Institute. She works to maintain Joint Commission and Patient Centered Medical Home compliance throughout the CHC. She received her MSN at Yale University in 2005 and while at CHC served as the On-Site Medical Director of the New London County sites, the Vice President of the Medical Staff, the Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and also as the preceptor of the CHC’s Nurse Practitioner Residency Program.
Kenneth “Hap” Klopp took over The North Face in 1968 when it was just two small stores, on in San Francisco and one in Old Barn at Stanford, according to the Stanford Business. He turned the company into a worldwide business that he ran for 20 years. He also became the executive chairman of Cocona, which is a company that makes fibers, fabrics and laminates, as well as Obscura Digital which is a digital communications business. He received his M.B.A. in 1966 from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
School of Communications
School of Engineering
MICHELE NORRIS
GREG ONEGLIA
Former NPR host and special correspondent and founder of The Race Card Project
Vice Chairman of O&G Industries
Norris is currently a host and special correspondent for the National Public Radio (NPR). She creates in-depth profiles, interviews and series while also occasionally hosting NPR News programs, according to The Race Card Project website. She also leads “The Race Card Project” which is an initiative that fosters a wider conversation about race in America. She created this project after publishing a family memoir called “The Grace of Silence.” She recieved a Peabody Award for The Race Card Project and as an award-winning journalist, has interviewed world leaders, Nobel laureates, Oscar winners, American presidents and military leaders.
Oneglia served as the President of O&G Industries from 1997-2000 and served as Vice President from 1976-1997, according to Bloomberg. As Vice Chairman, he is a director for several organizations which includes the Torrington Water Company, Connecticut Junior Republic and Connecticut Rivers Council. He also serves as a Trustee of The Taft School and O&G Industries and has been a Trustee at Union Savings Bank since 2010. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Union College and a Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
Graduate speakers JONATHAN LAPOOK
TYRONE “WOODY” WOODYARD
Chief Medical Correspondent for CBS News
VP for Communications at Sikorsky
JUSTICE RICHARD ROBINSON
JUAN QUINTANA
Frank Netter School of Medicine Connecticut Supreme Court
SOB, SOC and Education
President of Sleepy Anesthesia Associates
CAS
School of Law
Beyond the Bobcats
A rundown on news outside the university By Kelly Ryan
Three dead after shooting at California elementary school
Alabama governor resigns after affair allegations
Connecticut may tax sugary beverages
Man forcibly removed from overbooked United Airlines flight
A man and a woman were both killed in a supposed murder-suicide on Monday at San Bernardino North Park Elementary School in California according to CNN. Police were notified of the incident shortly after 10:30 a.m. The female victim was shot and killed while the male victim died by suicide. The female victim was a teacher at the school, and the male victim had signed into the front office as a visitor. Two students were also injured and in critical condition. One 8-year-old was pronounced dead at 7 p.m. on Monday evening. The San Bernardino County Coroner is working to identify the victims.
Governor of Alabama Robert Bentley resigned on Monday morning after facing impeachment hearings, according to CNN. There were allegations that Bentley had tapped state resources to hide a romantic affair with one of his former aides. His resignation announcement was effective immediately. Bentley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges and was charged with one count of failure to disclose information on a statement of economic interest and for failure to file campaign finance reports.
The state of Connecticut is proposing a tax on sugary drinks to help fund welfare programs, according to Fox61. This tax would cost customers a penny per ounce on drinks with added sweeteners. The tax was introduced in a public hearing by the state Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee on Tuesday morning. Advocates said this tax has potential to bring in $85 million annually.
An unidentified man was forcibly dragged from his seat and down the aisle after a flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky was overbooked on Sunday according to NPR. United asked for volunteers to change flights to the next day, in order for four United Airlines employees to have a seat on the Sunday flight. When nobody volunteered, the airline decided to choose four people at random to leave the flight. United security was called after the unidentified man refused to get off the plane. The man’s mouth was bleeding due to being dragged off the plane. However, the airline has the right to eject passengers from its flights.