INTRODUCTION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SPRING 2008 STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Chair Lukens, 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. Aaron Pairolero.

Please join me, Aaron.

Aaron enrolled at NMU in the fall of 2002.  He is from Gladstone, Michigan.  Aaron is a Social Studies/Elementary Education major with minors in Speech Communication, Science Education, and Outdoor Recreation.  He will graduate magna cum laude tomorrow.

Aaron has been on the Dean’s List every semester.  He is the recipient of the William C. Hoppes Elementary Education Award which is given to one student each year in recognition of exemplary performance in their student teaching.  He did his student teaching at Cherry Creek Elementary in Harvey and Graveraet Intermediary School in Marquette.  Aaron completed the Student Leader Fellowship Program in 2005.  He is a program facilitator at a YMCA camp in Wisconsin, a counselor at the Iron County Youth Camp, and a Life Teen Youth Group Leader at St. Peter’s Cathedral.  He was a student manager at the PEIF for four years.  This past weekend he presented at the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference on using team games and activities as a means of teaching mathematics through full body engagement.  

Aaron is interviewing for teaching jobs in Michigan and Wisconsin.

The theme of Aaron’s address tomorrow is based on something that an education professor told him about his preparation for student teaching:  “you’re not done, but you’re ready.”  Aaron will discuss how students will continue to learn and grow through the experiences and challenges that are coming in their lives, and that they are ready to face them.

Chair Lukens, I believe you have a presentation to make.