SBS Senior Celebration Ceremony: Senior Speakers

Communication: Daniel Lauture, Laura Mahoney, Amir Moini, Andrew Mulvaney, Shannon O'Brien, Kathryn Woodhams (all Peer Advisors)

Congratulations to all of our Communication graduates! We made it! As a major of 800 students, it is hard to imagine all the individual paths we have taken that have led us here today. But regardless of our past tracks and future endeavors, we share many common bonds.

And so, we dedicate our speech to the following:

• To any student who was asked "Communication? So you study talking?" We commend your patience and strength in explaining our major’s intellectual depth and rigor.

• To our distinguished faculty. To Lisa Henderson, our fearless and genuine department head, who has given so much support to her students and professors. To Lynn Phillips, our Chief Undergraduate Advisor, who goes far out of her way to ensure that every Comm student feels safe and secure and that their voices can be heard at this large university. To Professor Vernon Cronen, who is moving on to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington after 40 years of dedication to the Comm Department. To devoted Comm faculty like Professors Scharrer, Castañeda, Fuentes-Bautista, Bailey, and Geddes, who are here today. And to all those who offer students their unconditional support and encouragement as well as their insights.

• To April Tidlund, the under-sung hero of the Communication Department. Your experience and knowledge are our department’s foundation. Although your face is often hidden behind 3-foot stacks of paperwork, we always feel comforted knowing you're there, more than willing to answer our countless questions. And to Sue Dryer, whose friendly smile is contagious and encourages students and faculty to work together to make Comm the amazing department it is.

• To the newly formed Peer Advising Program, which we are all extremely thankful to have been a part of. While it has been hard work, it’s comforting to know that somewhere out there, someone is just as confused as we are. It's an even better feeling to know that we can help students walk out of our office feeling like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders. We have had the opportunity to use our individual knowledge and skills collectively, to help empower our fellow students.

• Most importantly, we dedicate this to you, the Department of Communication class of 2011, for working together to challenge, inspire, and learn from one another. Our major has taught us to work hard, to think hard, and to take responsibility for making a difference. As we continue on our individual paths beyond college, we can all take pride in knowing we’re not just UMass alums—but UMass Comm alums. Congratulations to the Communication class of 2011!

Journalism: Samantha Denette

Well, a journalist is always working, so if you would excuse me for a second. (take out phone and take picture)
Okay, now let me just tweet this...@SBS_UMass...
Live tweeting my grad speech..

We in the Journalism Program have been live tweeting things since before it was cool. In fact, we might be the only program where most classes have a social media component! But don’t worry parents. They taught us how to write more than 140 characters.

Speaking of which, I should post this on Facebook. Let’s see how long it takes for my mom to comment!   (take out phone again)

Just a few years ago, many of us never thought that Twitter would make it or that Facebook would become more than a way to share pictures from parties. Not only is social media changing ways of communication, but in the Journalism Program, it’s changing our careers. 

So on behalf of my classmates, I’d like to thank our professors—those who have Twitter accounts and those who don’t—for preparing us for a changing world. Thank you for teaching us the value of quality writing, whether it’s to be published in print or online. Thank you for teaching us how to show, not tell and the importance of critical thinking.

Many of us are heading toward Boston, some to New York and LA, and some to Europe and the Middle East. But the Journalism Program will always be in our hearts and will never be more than a Tweet away! 

Congratulations everyone and as always—Journalism Rocks!!

Sociology: Kristen Johnson

Greetings faculty, families, supporters, and everyone else with habits of which I and my fellow classmates have devoted countless hours to studying! Well, here we are: the products of your encouragement, devotion and love: we are the graduating class of 2011.  I thought you might want to know just how well your money has been spent.

We have been experiencing life through a fresh new lens everyday.  We have been taught by a faculty comprised of dedicated individuals who have committed their time to exposing us to new perspectives and who have challenged us to question the answers—to examine, listen and feel the pulse of our society and form opinions that will become the theories that change perspectives and ignite change. 

Graduates, never forget what you’ve learned here. Carry it with you as you embark upon the ongoing case study that I affectionately refer to as “Life!” The journey has only just begun for us.

Economics: Mark Paul and Anastasia Wilson

Aristotle noted, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” My professors gave a keen example, explaining why a particular economics department is so successful in publishing papers, developing new theories, winning prizes, and influencing policies. The key to their success: the professors and students eat lunch together.

By eating lunch together, these scholars are able to create lasting friendships and a sense of community, leading to success and innovation not just by the individuals, but by the group as a whole.

When new graduates leave UMass to enter the job market, they are often judged by their GPAs and accomplishments, rather than by their ability to work productively together. As technology and competitive globalization impersonalize our economy and culture, people would rather be texting their Facebook friends than striking up conversation with the folks next to them on the PVTA.  In this fast paced era, it is easy to overlook the value of community, cooperation, and teamwork – yet these are the qualities that allow society to function and have brought us together today.

Here, our collaborative efforts have been the most productive ones; together we have reached new heights that we could not have attained alone. Always remember your first week of school, when the social walls temporarily collapsed and it was okay to open up to complete strangers, leading to friendships, trust, and camaraderie.

Even seemingly non-productive collaboration has been fruitful. Taking a break at the Procrastination Station, can sometimes lead to an epiphany for your thesis. Bumping into professors in the hallways may lead to research assistantships or an independent study. New friends in your final Gen Ed course provided that extra boost of enthusiasm to get you through your final semester; just the cure UHS ordered for your case of senioritis.

We hope these are lessons the class of 2011 takes with them from their time at UMass.  Don’t try to one-up each other. Instead work together towards even greater accomplishments. Build friendships and community wherever you go, always remembering the value of teamwork. And most importantly, when in doubt, eat lunch together.

Landscape Architecture: Rachel Grigorian

Imagine yourself as a child sitting high among the branches of a tree. You take in the world around you without the world ever knowing you’re watching. That feeling is one of many that landscape architects build upon when designing a landscape. It isn’t accidental your favorite space within a park, on campus, or even your town walking trails evoke feelings of comfort, awe, surprise and perhaps nostalgia. It’s actually quite intentional and typically brought out by the hand and mind of a landscape architect. Many people ask what a Landscape Architect does. In as few words as possible, we hope to regenerate the intimate relationship human beings share with nature. In the words of Robert Frost:
So was I once myself a swinger of birches.
And so I dream of going back to be.
It's when I'm weary of considerations,
And life is too much like a pathless wood.

Environmental Design: Brittany Bemko

Congratulations Environmental Designers and all SBS graduates!  We have all completed four—or more—years of demanding and often challenging work.  But here we are, coming out on top and even more knowledgeable and prepared for the world than ever before. 

Don’t think so?  Well, honestly, neither did I.  But then this year I entered an internship at the Northampton Planning Department, unsure if I had the knowledge and skills the office needed.  But after starting, I realized that what I had learned had become like a sixth sense, it was there and I didn’t even know it.  So don’t be afraid to just jump in and give it a shot; you have learned everything you need for wherever you are going next.  Keep learning, whether you continue with schooling or start out in a career, because you have the ability…

EDs: we didn’t think we’d make it through two grueling semesters of history of landscape and architecture, but we completed it flawlessly.  So designers, create your path in life to curve and go wherever you want it to, be creative, change and improve it— hey, I know you guys are!  I’ve seen or read most of your work—so trust your imagination and maintain that hard work ethic, and you can go wherever you want to.  Congratulations again guys!

STPEC: Nicole Brownstein

There is an episode of This American Life called “Save the Day,” stories of people who play the role of the hero even when they shouldn't have.
One story asks, if you had a lifeboat with just one seat left, which school department would you save?

After much contemplation and very little bias, I decided to save STPEC.
First, it would take up very little room.

There are what? 10 of us?

Second, we wouldn't fight that much. After all, we've spent all of our time here learning about tolerance.

Plus, if the world is ending there won't be any government to fight about, am I right?

Third, we are the most progressive major by far. We are open minded and willing to try new things. Even our clothes are really hip! So, dear STPEC, even though you are technically my secondary major, you will always be primary in my heart and on my resume.

Anthropology: Rebecca Reddish

I thought, coming into UMass as a wee freshman, that I was going to drown in a sea of my fellow undergraduates. Every time I told people I was going to UMass, they felt the need to warn me that it was a big school and that I was a small-town girl.

Fortunately, I found myself swept up in the Anthropology department where I found a community of peers, professors and some of my very best friends. I’ve discovered something special about Anthropology majors. Every one that I’ve met loves what they do.

By definition we tend to be a curious and questioning group of people. In fact, I’d like to apologize to my roommates and family for picking up every day artifacts such as forks or coffee grinders and speculating about what these things will look like in the archaeological record of the future. Thanks to the department for always offering classes that made my friends jealous of my major. And the Anthropology Club for making this huge university a small and loving community.

It's been a privilege to share my undergraduate experience with all of you. Congratulations graduating seniors!

Legal Studies: Adam Bercowetz

Wow. Yes, hello! Hi, my name is Adam Bercowetz, although I go by a number of aliases in the department: Adam, hey you, Mr. Legal Studies, The Leprechaun, St. Berc. I assure you, most of them are flattering and generally said to my face.

You know, our program is filled with some of the most brilliant professors and academics in the field, who wake up every morning dedicated to their profession and their student’s interests. And some okay professors who enjoy enough of the job.

Legal studies is very much a liberal arts’ major. In short, next year I will be unemployed! So if you have heard of any jobs, my number is 860-655-8347. My strengths include writing 5-8 page papers between the times of midnight and 4am. Also, I can remember and memorize any fact, but only for about eight hours or so. I guess my only real weakness is that I am unable to pick a major that will actually prepare me for a job when I graduate. Of course, I’m kidding—I’m not a sociology major.

But in all seriousness, congratulations to the alumni of 2011. You know, I’ve heard a lot of advice going into today. But I want to share the best piece of advice I’ve heard. I was told once that no one in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard—and are kind—amazing things will happen. It’s true. With that, I’d like again to congratulate the legal studies majors.

Political Science: Kelley Kavanagh

Here we are, graduating, about to set out into the world. As I stand before you, I am keenly aware of the opportunity our time here at UMass has afforded us. Beyond this campus is a world, ready for us to make it better. Yet, standing here, I am conscious that this, the education that we have received, is a privilege. I realize that the freedom of speech and thought, the liberty of ideas that you and I enjoy, is a privilege. Today, across the world, students who have never known freedom are fighting and dying to throw off the yoke of oppression and to gain rights which we take for granted.

We cannot forget how crucial it is to think, to reason, to argue, and question everything, remembering always those who cannot. Every generation believes that they are faced with unprecedented challenges. While this has been true before, I believe that our graduation time has placed us at a truly unique precipice to launch into the world. Entering the world as college graduates, we bear the gift of civic responsibility and the skills to wield it.

Our planet is struggling to feed, shelter, and support us, and the seven billion others with whom we share it. Around our country and our world, earthquakes, floods and storms have caused abhorrent suffering. Yet in the wake of disaster, human nature reveals its capacity for empathy and endurance. Political upheavals in the Middle East contribute to mounting instability. The challenges afflicting the world will be the biggest test of the skills we have honed while studying at UMass. We must not recoil from the challenges ahead.

 I do not mean to paint a depressing picture or to preach. Rather, I want to remind us that we are the leaders of tomorrow, and that our experience at UMass, the education with which we’ve been imbued, has positioned ours to be the capable hands in which the future is placed.

After four years at UMass I can say with confidence and conviction that those graduating here today have the intelligence, the drive, and the empathy to make the world a better place. We have come from diverse backgrounds, yet share the UMass experience and the bright future it has laid out before us. The world has treated us well; we can, we must, and I am confident we will, repay in kind.

Click here for photo gallery of the SBS Senior Celebration Ceremony.