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Alumna Gretchen Morgenson caps off weekend of activities for St. Olaf Commencement

By Le Ann Finger '85
May 27, 2005

Commencement is the culminating event of Celebration Weekend 2005 at St. Olaf. The three-day event begins May 27 and will feature three learning seminars and two concerts that are open to the public.

Commencement will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, at Manitou Field, weather permitting. This year's Commencement speaker is Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gretchen Morgenson '76. Morgenson, who covers Wall Street for The New York Times, received the Pulitzer Prize for beat reporting in 2001.

She will speak to graduates on "The Secrets of Your Success," reflecting on what her own life experience has taught her about the ingredients necessary for true achievement.

A public Baccalaureate worship service will precede Commencement on Sunday at 9 a.m. in Skoglund Center. During Baccalaureate an announcement will be made regarding the location of Commencement, which could be moved inside to Skoglund Center Auditorium due to inclement weather.

A Weekend of Events
Celebration Weekend begins on Friday, May 27. Associate Dean for Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dave Van Wylen '80 will present the first learning seminar, "Plans for the new Science Complex." Van Wylen will give an overview of the design and planning process for the Science Complex from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Viking Theater in Buntrock Commons.

Weekend events continue on Saturday with the popular "Last Lecture," in which families and seniors join the professor selected by the Class of 2005 as he or she offers final advice and inspiration in an informal lecture setting. The lecture will be given by Professor of Family and Social Service George Holt, who is retiring at the end of the academic year, at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Boe Memorial Chapel.

The day continues with two additional learning seminars. "'You Must Be Prendergast' Or the Secrets of a College Teacher" will be presented by the Class of 1955. Paul Christianson '55, retired professor of English from the College of Wooster (Ohio), will share his stories and memories from 2 to 3 p.m. in Science Center 278.

The final learning seminar will be presented by members of the Class of 1960: "Refired: Finding Your Retirement Vocation" from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Viking Theater in Buntrock Commons. The facilitators are the Rev. Karl Korbel '60 and Mary Ellen Heian Schmider '60.

The weekend will also include a joint concert of the St. Olaf Band, Choir and Orchestra on Friday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Skoglund Center Auditorium. The concert will feature a preview of the music the three ensembles will be performing during the June tour of Norway.

Saturday, May 28 will include a mass choir performance by alumni of the Chapel Choir, Campus Choir and Viking Chorus at 3:30 p.m. in Boe Chapel. The mass choir is under the direction of Dr. Robert Scholz '61 who is retiring after 37 years of service to the college.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3416 or finger@stolaf.edu.