INTRODUCTION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SPRING 2010 STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Chair Roberts, Members of the Board of Trustees, President Wong:

One of the special components of tomorrow’s graduation ceremonies is the student speaker’s commencement address.  I am pleased to introduce the young man who was selected as the student who will address the graduates tomorrow, Mr. Brenton Fitzpatrick.

Please join me, Brenton.

Brenton enrolled at NMU in the fall of 2006.  He is from Boyne City, Michigan.  Brenton is a Secondary Education/Social Studies major with minors in Secondary Education/History, Secondary Education/Political Science, and Performance Theatre.  Both of his parents are alumni of Northern and he is the fourth in his family to graduate from the School of Education. 

Brenton has been involved in numerous theatre productions here at Northern, including Hello Dolly, Cinderella, and The Full Monty.  That last one took real courage as he “bared it all” for the arts!  He also helped with the staging of other shows and worked at the Forest Roberts Theatre box office.  He has volunteered at Room at the Inn, Marquette’s homeless shelter, for two years, at the United Conference, and at the Short Track Olympic Trials.  He completed his student teaching at Superior Central High School in Eben Junction.

Brenton hopes to be working next fall as a high school teacher. 

The theme of Brenton’s address tomorrow is that the graduating class has experienced great opportunities and great risks while at NMU.  Those experiences have prepared them well for what lies ahead.