91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Commencement Ceremony, May 14

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NOTE: 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø will have its commencement ceremony at 2 p.m., May 14, Clark County Ampitheater. Jeanne Firstenburg, Chief Operations Officer for First Independent Bank will give the keynote address. The following are a sample of students who are set to graduate. They are willing to take calls from media.

Melissa Huse of Vancouver will receive a Human Development degree, graduating magma cum laude, and receive the Chancellors Award for Student Achievement during 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø's commencement ceremony. The criteria for this award include academic achievement and love of learning, perseverance in academic pursuits despite personal or situational barriers, education/personal growth while at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø, future potential to her professional/community, and service to 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø. Huse was nominated by faculty members in the department of Human Development for her role in establishing the first 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø chapter of the national honor society for students in Human Development (Kappa Omicron Nu), and serving as President during its first year as a chapter. Huse was able to finish her bachelor's degree and graduate with honors while caring for a toddler and giving birth to a newborn infant, while working part-time at for a local retailer. Contact Huse at 360.256.5147.

Donae Obenland of Vancouver will begin work on her master's degree in Human Development at WSU Pullman next fall on a full teaching assistant award after receiving a Human Development degree from 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø, graduating summa cum laude. Obenland has been highly involved in two student organizations on campus, helping to develop both the Human Development student club and Kappa Omicron Nu honorary. Obenland is active in the community and did a major internship project at ESD 112 working with the "Parents as Teachers" program which has resulted in a paid full-time position after graduation. Contact Obenland at 360.903.8346 (cell).

Mary Elizabeth Stuart of Vancouver will receive her master's degree in History from 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø after also receiving her bachelor's degree from 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø in 2004. Stuart is the first student to receive a master's degree in history from the Vancouver campus. Concurrently, her daughter, Elizabeth, is finishing up her studies at WSU Pullman and will graduate in December. Contact Stuart at 360.896.8621 (home) or 360.600.5359 (cell).

Jonathon Blake of Ridgefield will graduate in the first class for the master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is one of three students graduating this spring with this degree. Jonathon will remain in the community and will hold a position with Applied Motion Systems (AMS) located in Vancouver. Jonathon is described by his professors as being a top-notch student who will be an up-and-comer in the workforce. Contact Blake at 360.241.1114 (cell).

Ann Hofmann of Washougal will graduate with a master's degree in Teaching. Hofmann has been a part of Dr. Susan Finley's research with homeless children with the "At Home, At School" project. Dr. Finley works with a local homeless shelter and brings 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø students, like Hoffman, to the shelter to help teach our future teachers how to educate homeless children. Clark County has one of the fastest growing homeless population rates in the state of Washington so having teachers prepared to educated this population of students is critical. Hofmann has continued to volunteer at the shelter to work with the children and has been able to reach out and connect with the children in ways that others have not been able to. In addition to her school work and volunteering at the homeless shelter, Hofmann is a professional female football player and belongs to the professional league in Portland. She has been able to use her love of sports to make connections with the children in a fun and exciting way. Contact Hofmann at 360.837.3332.