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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/26/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
May 15, 2005 UWGB grads sent off with passion 557 honored as ceremony moves inside By Andy Nelesen
A tone of caring and ownership flowed from Laatsch, the campus' most tenured teacher. His words came with a dose of empathy and smattering of tough love.
In opening his commencement address, Laatsch said the usual banter about graduation being the start of the rest of their life was overrated. A raise-your-hand poll of the class showed that most worked more than 20 hours a week while going to school and many already had families.
"You already understand the educational experience is a process, a journey, not a 4- or 5-year long encounter," Laatsch said.
Poor weather broke the traditional outdoor ceremony into two indoor services at the Weidner Center. In all, 557 students received their diplomas at the university's 36th spring commencement. Seven hundred students — including 38 master's students — were eligible to walk across the stage.
Many of Saturday's graduates were not alive when Laatsch started teaching at UW-Green Bay in 1966, a fact that is not lost on the urban and regional studies professor. However the length of Laatsch's tenure became clearer with the Class of 2005.
"It really hits home with me this year," Laatsch said with a smile. "I had a student who was the granddaughter of a student I had a long time ago. That's when it really set in."
When offered the chance to give the commencement address, Laatsch said he was honored. He's been part of graduation ceremonies before, but never as the keynote speaker.
"I've always wanted to talk to the students," he said. "We have such wonderful students."
Laatsch told members of the Class of 2005 that they have a lot of challenges ahead of them, but said it was OK to be proud of their accomplishments.
"Enjoy this special moment," he said. "But don't dwell on it. It is one of many. Be passionate about all you do. Embrace life with enthusiasm."
John Davison of Green Bay was the first to enjoy the moment. He was the first graduate to have his name called and step off across the stage and shake hands with Chancellor Bruce Shepard.
At the end of the pack, Donald Shadian, 27, of Green Bay was all about passion. Wearing a black Darth Vader-style helmet, goggles, snowmobiling gloves and a giant teddy bear backpack, the theater arts major bounded across the stage to accept his diploma cover from Shepard.
"They told us to be passionate with our major," Shadian said as he walked from the stage. "That's how passionate I am about theater and entertaining people.
"I'm normally a goofball, making people laugh. I wasn't going to let everyone down today."
Laatsch has watched the campus grow over the years, with buildings getting taller and the student body getting larger without taking away from the institution's charm.
"It's like working in a park," he said. "It's wonderful."
One of the most significant changes during his career has been the advances in technology. He shared an inside joke with the University's first graduating class, some of whom were at Saturday's ceremony.
"The Class of 1970 didn't have (personal computers), IPods or cell phones," Laatsch said. "How did they survive?"
One of the things that has remained steadfast at UW-Green Bay has been a commitment to interdisciplinary studies — the meshing of disciplines — to broaden students' perspectives. Laatsch said when the campus was first born, the concept was thought of as "radical" and revolutionary.
Now, many of the world's largest universities have embraced the idea and have incorporated the philosophy into their curriculum.
"If imitation is flattery, we should all be blushing," Laatsch said.
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