2010-05-01 11:44:24

Datz to give graduation commencment speech

1. Datz to give graduation commencment speech

View subtitle: Previous | Next | All

Written by Luke Harold Collegian Editor

Senior marketing and international business major Hannah Datz will be giving the commencement speech on graduation day this year, which is set to take place May 16.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Datz.  “It's something I’ve been thinking about doing for awhile.”  
All members of this year’s graduating class have the opportunity to write a speech for commencement. Those entering needed to compose a speech approximately eight minutes in length. This year, there were 16 entries.  From those 16, the top nine were selected by a committee consisting of members of La Salle’s faculty from all different fields of study.
The writers of the nine best entries then had the opportunity to recite their speeches in front of the committee.  After that, Datz was informed that her speech had been selected.
“It was surprising and exciting,” Datz said.  “There were a lot of great candidates.”
Candidates do not get the opportunity to hear the speeches of other candidates, so Datz is not sure what set her speech apart from the others.  She did, however, have an idea of what she wanted her speech to be like when she wrote it.
“I tried to avoid clichés, not make it sappy, or tell some crazy personal experience,” Datz said. “It revolves around the word ‘Lasallian’ because we hear it all the time and it means something different to everyone.”
The committee suggested to Datz that she make a few subtle changes to her speech in order “to be more inclusive.” “They reminded her of the diversity among the students graduating on May 16.  A lot of them entered La Salle four years ago after completing high school. However, there is also a contingent of graduate students, students who are earning their undergraduate degrees after more than four years, adults who had returned to school and are now earning their degrees, etc.
As of right now, Datz is “surprisingly calm” about giving her speech at graduation, but she is waiting to see how she feels as the day draws closer.  After she graduates, Datz will go to  work for SAP, the world’s leading provider of business software.