Jodi Lampi of Ishpeming, Mich., will be the student speaker at Northern Michigan University’s spring commencement on Saturday, May 2, at the Superior Dome.

            Lampi will graduate with a double major in history and English secondary education. She has been student teaching abroad this semester and auditioned for senior speaker from Finland via Skype video call software.

“As a student for five years at NMU, I have felt much support, guidance and care from the faculty, administration and my fellow graduates,” Lampi said. “The atmosphere created by the care for each other made NMU a desirable place to study. I wanted to speak because I wanted the opportunity to recognize the students and the campus for the wonderful work and atmosphere they have created together, and to remind them why it should continue.”

Lampi has been actively involved in NMU’s Finn Club. She served as president in 2006 and took time out of her own studies to teach beginning Finnish to the club’s members. Through her involvement in the organization, she was able to attend the Expatriate Parliament Conference in September 2007 in Helsinki, Finland, representing NMU and northern Michigan. Lampi has tutored local high school students for the Upward Bound program. She has also been part of NMU’s honors program and will graduate with full lower- and upper-division honors.

            When choosing a topic for her speech, Lampi was inspired by the NMU community. Not yet titled, her address will focus on the support that surrounds us and how it can help ease life’s challenges and allow people to reach for their dreams. She will talk about her experiences working in the mail room at Northern and the strong support system it has provided for her. 

            NMU commencement begins at 10:30 a.m. It will be broadcast live on WNMU-TV and streamed on the Web for $7 at www.b2TV.com.