Event Celebrates Graduates' Accomplishments

May 27, 2005 -- The University of Wyoming/Casper College (UW/CC) Center celebrated the accomplishment of 97 graduates at a recent commencement ceremony.

Margaret Murdock, dean of the University of Wyoming Outreach School, told the graduating students that although their futures were yet uncertain, they have "taken a great step; (they've) learned how to learn."

Special recognition was given to John Kambutu, assistant professor of education, for receiving the 2005 UW College of Education Outstanding Teaching Award, and C. Evert Brown, professor of biology at Casper College, for receiving the 2005 UW/CC Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award. Also recognized were graduating students Daryl Allen, recipient of the 2005 Sue Jorgensen Excellence in Education Award, and Justin Cochran and Debra Hollis, recipients of the Outstanding Psychology Major awards.

Shawna Seely, a graduate in the college of business, was chosen by the UW/CC faculty to give the student address. Likening her college experience to baseball, she explained how the team (students), management (faculty and staff), and fans (friends and family) were instrumental in helping her to succeed. "It was a very supportive atmosphere," she said.

David Romtvedt, associate professor of English and Wyoming's poet laureate, included the graduates in a rhythm exercise, where they drummed their hands on their thighs, clapped their hands together and tapped their feet while Romtvedt played a melody on the accordion.

According to Romtvedt, the experiment in rhythm was what 19th-century poet John Keats called negative capability, a necessary skill for one to be a poet. The activity showed how "a person (can) hold two conflicting views in the mind without the need to resolve the conflict, without the need to reject one and embrace the others. I think it's a necessary skill for one to be a full human being, too," Romtvedt explained.

Romtvedt also discussed the usual platitudes that are typically offered at commencement: do your best and treat others with respect. Although platitudes are true and useful, Romtvedt claimed that they are usually tuned out because they have been heard so often. According to Romtvedt, platitudes need fresh new language so that the idea is viewed from a new angle. "I just wanted to try and give a commencement talk that would give people something useful to think about, that might be mildly memorable, that might help them to stay awake and celebrate the event," Romtvedt said.

So Romtvedt offered platitudes with "fresh new language" and advised the students to "hang tight to the places you come from" and to "find out who you are and be that person." After his interactive speech, the presentation of the candidates began.

The candidates for the bachelor's degree were recognized first, followed by the hooding of the master's degree candidates. Finally, Lydiah Wangui Nganga received a standing ovation as she, along with her husband and three children, advanced the stairs to center stage. After completing the doctor of philosophy program at the University of Wyoming and obtaining the highest level of academic accomplishment, Nganga chose to receive her hooding at the UW/CC Center commencement ceremony.

Posted on Friday, May 27, 2005