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Q & A with Brittany "Bistro" Strode
Student Commencement Speaker

Alumnus Profile:
Eric Loewen
Commencement Address Speaker

Commencement Program (pdf)

Commencement Addresses

Commencment Address
"A New Nuclear Waste Approach: Recycling before Disposal" (pdf)
By Eric P. Loewen, Ph.D.

Student Commencement Address
"Will Your Dream Live Beyond You?" (pdf)
By Brittany "Bistro" Strode, magna cum laude

 

Spring 2010 Commencement Ceremony

The Spring 2010 Commencement Ceremony was held on Saturday, May 8, at the WSC Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison, Colo.

Eric Loewen, a 1983 WSC graduate, presented the commencement address to 234 graduates participating in the ceremony. Loewen is a nuclear engineer for GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and has twice been featured in “Esquire” magazine’s annual “Best and Brightest” issue for his work with a nuclear reactor that uses its own waste as a fuel source.

History professor Duane Vandenbusche served as the spring commencement faculty marshal. Vandenbusche has taught at Western for 48 years and is a former cross country and track and field coach.

Brittany A. Strode of Coal Creek Canyon, Colo., presented the student address. She is an English major graduating manga cum laude. Strode also will receive teacher licensure and has interned at the Gunnison High School and the Gunnison Valley School. Her involvement at Western includes participation in the Academic Leadership Program (ALPS) and Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society.

Western conferred about 251 bachelor’s degrees this semester. The college also awarded a bachelor of arts degree posthumously to Adam Lockard, who passed away in a house fire in January.

 

Commencement Schedule

Processional

Pomp and Circumstance
Western State College of Colorado Symphony Band
John Wacker, Conductor

Singing of the National Anthem

Western State College of Colorado Symphony Band
John Wacker, Conductor

Western State College of Colorado Chamber Singers will lead the singing
Heather Roberson, Conductor

Introductory Remarks

Jay Helman, President

Student Address

Brittany Anne Strode
Major: English
Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado

Address

Eric P. Loewen
Chief Consulting Engineer, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
1983 graduate, Western State College of Colorado

Confering of Emeritus Status

President Helman

  • Harry E. Heil, Professor of Art
  • Martha W. Violett, Professor of Music

Presenting the Candidates

John Sowell, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Conferring the Degrees

President Helman

Awarding of a Posthumous Degree

President Helman

  • Adam Michael Lockard
    Bethesda, Maryland
    Bachelor of Arts: Psychology

Awarding the Diplomas

President Helman