Metropolitan State Summer and Fall commencement

-- Rebecca Haven

Commencement for Metropolitan State University's summer and fall 2006 graduates took place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Over 900 students were listed to graduate, and over half took part in the commencement itself.

The nearly two-hour long ceremony highlighted several speakers, including President Wilson G. Bradshaw, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Linda L. Baer and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Board of Trustee Ann Curme Shaw.

Many representatives from the university faculty were also present.

Bradshaw began the evening with a bit of information about Metropolitan State and mentioned that the graduates sitting in the seats of the auditorium would add to the current alumni numbers, which total over 24,000.

Each following speaker commended the graduates and encouraged them to stay involved in education any way they could.

Martin D. Jensen, graduating with a degree from the School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, gave the student address.

Jensen told of his journey through Metropolitan State as a working father and what a challenge that was for him.

Jensen mentioned he was happy to have found Metropolitan State—the flexible hours that classes are held and that there were many other students doing the same thing he was.

Mary K. Brainerd, president and CEO of HealthPartners, gave the commencement address.

HealthPartners is a family of nonprofit Minnesota health care organizations headquartered in Minneapolis.

Before she joined the HealthPartners organization, Brainerd held positions at BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota within their marketing department. Brainerd received her B.A. from the University of Minnesota and her M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas. Brainerd has also taught classes at Metropolitan State.

In her commencement address, Brainerd mentioned the marketing course that she was so lucky to teach at Metropolitan State. She spoke about how much work it is to obtain a degree and how all the graduates should be proud of all their accomplishments.

Brainerd had these words for graduates: “This is a time for celebration for your accomplishments, but I encourage you to make sure you thank those who have supported you throughout this journey. No one does something this big on their own.”

After her address, candidates from each of the colleges were presented for graduation and were welcomed to cross the stage to receive their medallions. The students receiving their master degrees began, followed by First College, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Professional Studies, School of Nursing, School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice and ending with the College of Management.

Bradshaw accepted all of those presented for graduation, and those graduates officially became college alumni after the last graduate crossed the stage.

Prior to the closing by Bradshaw, in which all the graduates were wished well, Elsa Vega-Perez, a representative of the Alumni Association, welcomed all of the new alumni to the association.