Stevens Point's Olatunji to speak at UW-Stevens Point commencement

Bunmi Olatunji, a graduating senior and Albertson award winner, will be the first student in recent memory to address his fellow graduates at spring commencement on Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m. at the Specht Memorial Forum at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. His remarks will follow those of commencement speaker, Bob Whitsitt (’77), president and general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers and president of the Seattle Seahawks.

Recently Chancellor Tom George decreed that a member of each graduating class would have an opportunity to represent and address their fellow graduates at commencement. Approximately 1,182 graduates, their families and friends will attend the ceremony.

A native of Nigeria and a graduate of SPASH, Bunmi (Boomer) Olatunji has a penchant for succeeding both inside and outside the classroom. This spring he joins a handful of UWSP graduating seniors in receiving both the Chancellors Leadership Award and the James H. Albertson Award. Last year he was a UWSP Student Scholar, as well as the recipient of the Loten Academic Grant and the African American Heritage Scholarship for Academics. In addition, he was the 1999 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete.

A psychology major with a 3.56 cumulative grade point average, Olatunji plans to pursue both master’s and doctoral degrees in either social or clinical psychology. In his mother's footsteps, Bunmi followed Christianah Olatunji who received a bachelor’s degree in psychology at UWSP in 1998.

From 1997-99 Olatunji was involved in the men’s basketball program. A past member of the Psychological Honor Society, he has volunteered as a mentor for area troubled minority adolescents at the Rice Clinic. At the Crossroads Mental Health Services of Stevens Point, Olatunji has developed and implemented treatment plans, as well as leading workshops to teach daily living skills to patients suffering from a variety of emotional illnesses.

During the spring commencement ceremony, the UWSP Concert Band under the direction of James Arrowood will provide music for the processional and recessional and the ROTC Color Guard will present the flags. The national anthem will be led by Desiree Wattelet, a senior applied music major from Minocqua.

Special awards to students and faculty will be announced by Provost and Vice Chancellor Bill Meyer and Assistant Chancellor Bob Tomlinson. The master’s graduates will be hooded by the college deans and Provost Meyer will present their diplomas. The baccalaureate diplomas will be presented by Chancellor Thomas F. George upon the introduction of each graduate by Professor William "Pete" Kelley. Bruce Bay, member of the class of 1965, will give the charge to alumni.

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