Commencement, December 2007 | page 2

Associate Provost Tim Sewall offered last-minute advice to graduates in the Fort Howard Hall staging area minutes before "show time." He suggested they relax and have fun, but also maintain a "death grip" on the cards each carried (bearing their names) to hand to the stage announcer.

Down the hall in the Jean Weidner Theatre, the staging area for faculty and staff participants, the atmosphere was festive and relaxed.

Jill Lajdziak, UW-Green Bay Class of 1979 and general manager of General Motors' Saturn division, was welcomed back to campus by Chancellor Bruce Shepard. Lajdziak gave the commencement address.

Lajdziak promised the graduates she would remember the so-called 4 B's of successful public address — "Be brief. Be Brief." Her advice centered on the value of lifelong learning, persistence, passion and the ability to prioritize. Family comes first, she said.

Business leader and Regent Michael J. Falbo offered greetings from the University of Wisconsin System. "Never, ever forget UW-Green Bay in your future community commitments," he said, urging the graduates to remember to "give back" to their communities.

The chairperson of the University Committee, Prof. Dean VonDras, shared greetings from the faculty. He quoted the school's alma mater and its lyricist, former professor Peter Stambler, and the recognition that students "rise in knowledge, rise in wisdom, rise in friendships sealed today."

The University's "Connecting" banner and holiday poinsettias framed the stage for the 38th mid-year commencement.

Briefly — very briefly — Chancellor Shepard wore a Santa hat as he announced that "in the spirit of giving," it was time for the awarding of diplomas. (The UW-Green Bay commencement band provided a holiday "clip-clop" to suggest reindeer hoofs.) The audience responded with laughter and applause.