Dec. 8, 2008
UWSP alumnus to address winter graduates
Fall semester graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
and their guests will be addressed by 2005 alumnus and Walworth
County attorney James Duquette at UWSP’s winter commencement
ceremonies on Saturday, December 13.
Duquette will speak to 640 December graduates in the Quandt
Fieldhouse in two ceremonies. Associate’s degrees and baccalaureate
degrees in the College of Letters and Science and College of Natural
Resources will be presented at the 10 a.m. ceremony. Master’s and
baccalaureate degrees in the College of Professional Studies and
College of Fine Arts and Communication will be presented at the 1
p.m. ceremony. This spring’s graduating class includes students ages
21 to 59.
The commencement program will open with the presentation of flags by
the UWSP ROTC color guard. The national anthem will be sung by
senior music education major Megan Younkle of New Franken at both
ceremonies. Presiding over the ceremonies are Chancellor Linda
Bunnell, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Mark Nook
and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Bob Tomlinson. Bunnell will
give the welcome and charge to the graduates.
Representing the class of 2008, Courtney Ryan, a Spanish major from
Friendship will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony and Ryan Stieber, a
computer information systems major from Edgar, will speak at the 1
p.m. ceremony. Deans from their respective colleges will assist the
chancellor in the presentation of diplomas.
Laurice Biemeret-Freeman of Fond du Lac, a 2005 UWSP graduate and
supervisor of Community Education Services for the Fond du Lac
school district, will give the charge to alumni. Music will be
provided by the UWSP Concert Band and the UWSP Wind Ensemble,
conducted by Brendan Caldwell, assistant professor of music.
Professors Rebecca Stephens and Stephen Trovillion Smith will
introduce each candidate for graduation.
Duquette, an assistant public defender in the Trial Division for
Walworth County, majored in political science and minored in
communication at UWSP. As a student he served as a Student
Government Association senator and was president of the student body
in 2004-2005. He was also involved in 90-FM WWSP, Pointer Pals and
the Newman University Parish, for which he was a Salvation Army and
Operation Bootstrap volunteer and took two mission trips to
Kentucky. He also was a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Portage County.
Duquette graduated from UWSP in May of 2005, earning the
Chancellor’s Leadership Award. That fall he began study at the
University of St. Thomas School of Law in the Twin Cities, where he
volunteered at the Indian Child Welfare Law Center and was a
research assistant. During his third year he was chosen for a
clerkship at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of
Minnesota. He also served as a law clerk for the firm of Cronan
Pearson Quinlivan in Minneapolis, focusing on civil litigation.
Duquette graduated from law school with the Dean’s Award in Advanced
Trial Advocacy in May of 2008, passed the Wisconsin Bar Exam and was
hired by the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office. He and his
wife, Lyndsay, reside in Elkhorn.
