Commencement Speaker Election
The election period has passed.
Commencement Speaker Election - Spring 2011
All graduating students (class of 2011) can vote for one candidate for commencement speaker
Commencement Speaker Candidates
Matt Arentsen
If you choose me for the student commencement speaker, my speech will focus on our common challenges and triumphs over the past three years. I would be honored to speak on behalf of our class, a class which I feel is the finest to ever graduate from the Sturm College of Law. However, the main reason I would like to be the graduation speaker is because my grandma will be in attendance, and she never had the opportunity to attend any type of higher education. So, it would make her very happy to see me speaking to all of you. Thanks for your consideration.
Matthew Court
First and foremost I'd like to let you know that I'm truly humbled by the fact that someone took the time to nominate me to be this year's graduation speaker. I consider myself an appreciative and sincere individual, and I would be honored to address our class, your families and friends, and the law school faculty at our commencement in a few short weeks.
To be honest with you, though, I don't know if I'm any more qualified than anyone else to take on this task. If you count my graduation from kindergarten in 1988, this will be my fifth ceremony. I've probably sat through three or four additional graduations in my life, so I suppose I have all of that going for me. Other than that, I've had a lot of practice talking. I taught middle school math for several years after college, where I was really able to hone the number one quality needed in a graduation speaker: the ability to speak well. But really, on paper, that's about it.
I don't have an incredibly inspiring background story to share and I probably won't bring anyone to tears (well, possibly my parents, but I'm not even going to promise that). So why on earth should you vote for me, you ask? Great question. Most importantly, I can promise that I wouldn't give a speech out of self-interest or for any type of notoriety. My address will be about us. Our tremendous accomplishments over the past three years, our trials and tribulations, our sleepless nights, our incredible new friendships and relationships, and our next steps. My speech will be about the journey that we have all shared - where we've been and where we're going.
I believe that my strength as a commencement speaker lies in the fact that I have been a hard-working, observant, friendly person during my time at DU Law. If you give me this platform, I will use it to share our story as law school graduates and what I have learned from you, my peers and colleagues, during the past three years.
Finally, I can also promise that in the five minutes given to me I will not include a single cliché, law-related pun or a single inside joke that only my close friends will understand. And really, what else could you hope for in a graduation speaker?
I thank you for considering me to take on this great honor and responsibility.
Kellie Eastin
I would be honored to represent our class as student commencement speaker, celebrating both the obstacles and opportunities our new profession affords us.
Myra Gottl
Being only 25, I don't delude myself into thinking that I am wise. I haven't done any of the things that make someone "famous." At this point in my life, my biography would definitely not be Oprah's book club material. And the only time I've ever been on TV was during a slow news day in Omaha, NE when I was filmed flying kites in a park.
I looked up past graduation speeches given by famous people. Authors. Nobel Prize Winners. Comedians. I'm definitely don't fit into either of the first two categories, and depending on your position on cheesy puns, I may or may not fit into the later.
Because I won't be speaking to you from a position of wisdom or prominence, I'll talk to about what I know best: law school.
Most of my notable achievements have happened in the past three years. Law school is trial by fire (and sometimes trials about fires). I have been pushed further than I thought possible - both to abysmal lows and new heights. We've all been there at the 11th hour, working long past the point that we thought we could. We've had brilliant moments of success when hard work finally pays off.
During school, I've been the co-president of OUTLaws, Production Editor of the Water Law Journal and president of Partnership with Community Day. I usually worked two jobs at once. It was stressful and I have the white hair to show for it. But that experience made me realize exactly what I'm capable of when I put my mind to it and don't sleep enough at night. I won't lie and say that I enjoyed every single minute of law school, but overall, I really have loved my experience here and the people I've gone through it with.
As we approach the end of law school, I've reflected on who I am now and the attorney I'd like to become. I've talked to attorneys about their journey from classroom to courtroom. And I've set challenges for the rest of my career. These goals will be the theme of my speech, because I'd also like to challenge each member of the class of 2012. I sincerely hope you will give me the opportunity to be your commencement speaker.
Chandler Grant
I've learned a lot these past three years.
I learned the practice of law is not as easy as it seems on TV.
I learned that Contracts was much more interesting that I thought it would be and Con Law wasn't.
I learned that grades don't necessarily reflect how much you raise your hand in class
I learned the "Shadium" can fit about 20 more people than you think it should.
I learned that law school is tougher when you have an infant at home.
I learned that without the support of you, my classmates, law school would have been impossible.
It's been a phenomenal three years. I've been President of two organizations (STLA and CLA), competed in just about every moot court competition DU offers, was an editor for the Crim Law Review, and interned for a Judge and a DA's Office.
I'm not the smartest, the best writer, or the most talented in our class. But I can talk. I can give a good speech. I would love to do so for our class. DU has given me a lot of opportunities and I would be honored to give a little back as our class representative.
Jim Henderson
Webster's Dictionary defines "graduation" as... Just kidding. I'm honored to have been nominated to be the student commencement speaker for our class, and, if selected, I promise to do all I can NOT to give another glib and cliché graduation speech. Unless that's what you want, in which case I'll make it incredibly cliché and condescending. Whatever you'd prefer. After all, today is the first day of the rest of our lives.
Edward (E. J.) Johnson
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HEIGHT - 5'11"
WEIGHT - 200-ish
EYE COLOR - Blue
HAIR - Brown
ZODIAC SIGN - Virgo
HOBBIES - None, I am in Law School
FAVORITE COLORS - Red, White, & Blue
MOST BELOVED CAR - 1969 Dodge Charger
3L INTEREST - The Criminal Defense Clinic
FAVORITE QUOTE - "Why say no, when it feels so good to say yes?"
PREFERRED MUSIC - Smooth Jazz…Just kidding, Classic Rock
FAVORITE BOOKS - The Lincoln Lawyer and Happy Hour is for Amateurs
SPEAKING EXPERIENCE - best man speeches, formal dining, and drink toasts
SPEECH TOPICS - Realizations from spring break, the Bar Application process, learning how to have fun again, looking into the future, true excellence, being the best, and much more!
Jason Krueger
This is not our parents' generation. Our generation measures success not by things, but by happiness.
As I write and reflect on those successful people that have touched our lives every day, no doubt nowhere in America is there a classroom with an Apple computer. Whether you liked him or not, his talent and ambition is truly inspiring.
Steve Jobs' advice to recent grads in 2004 said that from forward our work will make up a significant portion of our lives - it will define who we are. The only way to feel satisfied is to do great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found what you love to do yet, keep searching and don't give up.
More importantly, don't let the clatter of someone else's opinion drowned out your own intuition. Have the courage to follow your intuition - you somehow already know what you truly want to become.
It only took Steve Jobs from age 20 to age 30 to turn a no asset 2-employee start-up into a $2 billion dollar company with over 4000 employees. When asked how he did it, Steve Jobs simply replied: "I love what I do, I stayed hungry and I stayed foolish."
My message, friends and colleagues, is that as we enter a new phase in our careers - love what you do, stay hungry and stay foolish. Only then will we be truly successful.
With this in mind I ask for your support to speak on Graduation Day. Please vote for me as our graduation speaker.
Humbly yours,
Jason Krueger
Alissa Mundt
No Statement Provided
Aaron Neptune
I would like to be your Student Speaker for the sake of your bladder. It's going to be a busy day. By the time we get to the speaker portion of the program, I guarantee many people will need to use the bathroom. Think about it. Friends and family have gathered. You are in a good mood. You have a few breakfast cocktails. Then you slug down a quart of water so you don't smell like vodka and/or rum all day. Also, because hydration is just a good habit, regardless. Then you put on your fancy clothes, on top of which goes your medieval cap and gown, by which point maybe you recognize you should've taken care of business one more time. But it's too late. You figure you will be alright. And then you wait to file into the space. And then we slowly file in. All 250 of us, or whatever it is. And we sit. And there's some music. And then Dean Katz probably says a few words. That's, like, another hour and a half, at least.
As your Student Commencement Speaker (who is allotted 5 min. to speak) I will say what needs to be said in one minute, and then vamp for another 4 minutes while everybody quickly uses the restroom. The following is a rough draft of what I propose:
"Welcome. Friends. Family. Thanks. Graduation? Yes! Bar? Buzzkill. Job? Maybe. Buzzkill. Proud? Definitely. Love you. Mean it. Bye."
And then I will hum "Don't Stop Believing" into the microphone for four minutes so they don't skip to the next speaker. The next speaker could be a good one. I don't know. But I don't want you to worry about missing anything. You go use the restroom. In fact, that will be your only opportunity. After the ceremony is over, those restrooms are going to be SLAMMED. The audience will not be thinking about you and your bladder. They will be thinking about their own bladder. And those lines will snake up and down the hallways. Women, I'm reaching out to you here.
In conclusion, I'm really honored to have been nominated and I will take the task seriously. So please elect me your Student Speaker. No one cares about your bladder like I care about your bladder.