CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield, VP of Crain Communications, Oakland County executive speaking at December commencement
December graduates will hear their last words as Central Michigan University students from the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a vice president of a communications company or an Oakland County executive.
The Dec. 12 commencement will consist of three ceremonies at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Rose Arena.
Daniel Loepp, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, will speak at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Mary Kramer, vice president and publisher of Crain Communications, is speaking at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony, and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said the Board of Trustees can suggest speakers out of those earning honorary degrees. Smith said the submissions for guest speakers also can come from faculty, staff, students and board members.
“Really, anyone can submit for consideration,” Smith said.
Agenda item
When it comes down to who will speak at this December’s commencement ceremonies, the Board of Trustees will go by an agenda.
There also will be an agenda item on the Board of Trustees agenda in December to give the speakers their honorary degrees, Smith said.
Speakers usually are decided based on what the graduates in each commencement ceremony would be interested in hearing. It also is based on who will provide motivation to the students based on life stories, said Commencement Coordinator Sharon Russell.
Interim University President Kathy Wilbur ultimately decides who is invited as the commencement speaker, Russell said.
The May speaker should be decided on in January, Smith said.
“Our goal is to get someone who is prominent and recognizable to our graduates and someone who has an inspirational message based on their life and how they found success and some inspirational words that our graduates can carry with them in their professional lives,” Smith said.
Executive Assistant to the President Mary Jane Flanagan said a worthwhile message to the graduates is important for the May commencement ceremony.
“Certainly with it being one ceremony, we will be trying to achieve that with a speaker and try to get a speaker who is recognizable to students,” Flanagan said.
