Lt. Governor Lawton to address UWSP spring graduates

Wisconsin�s Lieutenant Governor, Barbara Lawton, will address the 2004 spring graduates and their families at 1 p.m., Sunday, May 16, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point�s commencement.

About 1,200 graduates will receive their diplomas at the ceremony at Goerke Stadium, just east of P.J. Jacobs Junior High School, 2400 Main St., Stevens Point. Graduating senior Brooke Mesenberg of Wausau will address the audience as Class of 2004 Representative.

A Chancellor�s Leadership Award recipient, Mesenberg graduates with a major in elementary education and minors in English and English as a second language. A member of Student Wisconsin Education Association since 1999, she holds a 3.99 grade point average. Mesenberg is a Latchkey Program volunteer who has helped with Make a Difference Day, Special Olympics, Association for Community Tasks (ACT), Youth in College and the Homework Center. She is a past recipient of the Kathrin Saunders Sebold Memorial Scholarship, Hegg Memorial Future Teacher Scholarship, President�s Student Service Award and the University Leadership Award. She is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma and Kappa Delta Pi.

A native of Racine, Lawton graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University while parenting two children. She is the first woman elected to the office of lieutenant governor in Wisconsin history. One of her first official visits was to UWSP early in 2003.

Prior to her election, Lawton was a founding member of Latinos Unidos where she has worked toward greater cross-cultural training for businesses whose employees work abroad. In addition, she served as spokesperson for the Heffernan Commission, "Citizens� Panel for Clean Elections Option," named for a retired Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.

As the lieutenant governor she has participated in Wisconsin National Guard deployment ceremonies as well as homecoming ceremonies. As chairperson of Wisconsin�s Arts Board, Lawton promotes cultural tourism as a key component of local economic development. Her office has become a popular place for Capitol tourists who want to get a flavor of some of Wisconsin�s finest art work from around the state.

Last June she launched a statewide initiative to create a blueprint for the myriad of issues affecting women. "Wisconsin Women = Prosperity" has been holding forums across the state culminating in a statewide conference on June 29 to highlight policy changes to ensure the full economic development for women in Wisconsin.

The program will open with the national anthem sung by Janice Kathrine McCarthy of Brookfield, a senior majoring in music education and vocal music. She also will lead the singing of the alma mater. UWSP�s ROTC color guard will present the flags and Interim Provost Nancy Bayne will welcome the participants and recognize honor students and award winners. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Bob Tomlinson will commend the James H. Albertson Award recipients and Interim Chancellor Virginia Helm will introduce the speaker, Barbara Lawton.

Provost Bayne will present the master�s degree candidates and the college deans will present the baccalaureate and associate degree candidates. Chancellor Helm will present diplomas and give the charge to graduates. Tom Girolamo (�82), head of UWSP�s Alumni Association Board of Directors, will give the charge to alumni. Music will be provided by the UWSP Commencement Band under the direction of Scott Teeple. Professors Dan Dieterich and Robert Bell will introduce each candidate for graduation.

In the event of inclement weather, the graduation ceremony will be moved to the Quandt Fieldhouse and split into two separate ceremonies. The 1 p.m. ceremony would confer diplomas for all associate degrees and baccalaureate degrees within the College of Letters and Science. The 3:30 p.m. ceremony would confer all master�s degrees and baccalaureate degrees for the Colleges of Professional Studies, Natural Resources and Fine Arts and Communication.

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