Sunday, May 17, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. @Soccer field under the tent.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO…
Commencement Activities 2009
- May 7
3:00 p.m. Robing Ceremony & senior awards ~Alexander Twilight Theatre~
Introduction of Faculty Speaker: Michael Quiet, Class of 2010
Charge to the Graduates: Janet Bennion, Assoc. Professor, Social Science
History and Significance of Robes: Sara Fetterhoff, Class of 2009 Investiture of Robes: Carol A. Moore, President
4:15 p.m. Reception ~Theatre Lobby~
4:45 p.m. Senior Class Photo ~Stannard Gymnasium~
- May 15
2:00 p.m. Rehearsal ~Bole Gymnasium~
- May 17
10:30 a.m. Line Up for Commencement
Faculty: Faculty Lounge, 4th floor Vail
Musicians: LAC 333 & T202
Platform Party: Burke Mountain Room
Students: Bole Gymnasium
11:00 a.m. Commencement
Ceremony: Under the tent on the soccer field; and live broadcast in the Alexander Twilight Theatre*
Blessing: Hayley LaPoint, Class of 2009
Student Speaker: Erica Kelleher, Class of 2009
Guest Speakers: Mark Breen, Class of 1982, Steve Maleski, Class of 1981, and Christopher Bouchard, Class of 2004, famed meteorological trio from the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium and Vermont Public Radio’s “Eye on the Sky” weather broadcasting team.
Post-Commencement Dessert Reception ~Stannard Gymnasium~
*for those who wish to be seated indoors if the weather is particularly warm/cold.
Parking at Commencement:
Please note that we are “under construction” and our main parking lot will not be fully accessible at Commencement. Rest assured that staff will be available to direct traffic and help you find a space. We also have golf cart drivers available for transporting people to the Commencement Tent, as needed. If you or someone in your vehicle is handicapped, please let the parking staff know so that they can direct you accordingly.
Contact Information:
- For graduates - Evelyn Franz, 802-626-6495
- For Senior week - Hannah Manley, 802-626-6433
- For commencement day activities: Tracy Sherbrook, 802-626-6406.
Other Resources:
Speakers:
Mark Breen is the senior meteorologist at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, and for over 25 years he has been heard on Vermont Public Radio's an "Eye on the Sky" each weekday morning. Along with weather forecasting, his work at the Museum involves teaching weather and science, as well as serving as the Planetarium Director in Vermont's only public planetarium. You can now hear Mark weekday afternoons on VPR, with the new astronomy program “Eye on the Night Sky”, at 4:30.
Mark Breen was involved with community theater while a student at Lyndon State College in the meteorology program. Friends and family in Vermont and his love of the outdoors brought him to the Fairbanks Museum in 1981, where he and Steve Maleski embarked on what would become an institution for weather fans. “In Vermont, in particular, weather plays a big role in the economy,” says Mark. “I enjoy wonderful conversations with farmers, skiers, factory managers, teachers, hang-gliders, bicyclists, hunters, hikers, just to name a few. They each help me understand the different parts of the weather that affect their activities, which in turn helps me to focus on certain aspects of the weather, say the wind, or humidity, or temperature.”
Originally from Dannemora, NY, Mark has lived in Vermont since attending Lyndon State College, where he graduated in 1982 with a B.S. in meteorology. He has been featured in a number of magazines, including Vermont Life, where he contributes to the Vermont Life Weather Calendar, and has occasionally appeared on Vermont Public Television. He is the author of the popular kids book, The Kid’s Book of Weather Forecasting.
For Steve Maleski, the journey to St. Johnsbury seems almost fated from an early memory when he was five and he witnessed an approaching thunder storm with the same awe and wonder he brings to broadcasts today. “At that moment I remember thinking, ‘I'm going to be a weatherman,’ almost as if someone were speaking to me. From that time, I always knew what I wanted to do.” Steve also found the meteorology program at Lyndon State offered the right mix of academic challenge in a beautiful setting. Except for a brief stint in Atlanta, Steve has lived in the Northeast Kingdom since 1978.
Chris Bouchard joined “Eye on the Sky” in 2005. Originally from Brunswick, Maine, Chris came to northern Vermont to attend the meteorology program at Lyndon State College. He says, “I have always been fascinated by weather, particularly thunderstorms. ... I am also very interested in photography, so often when I hear thunder, I head into the storm to photograph lightning, hail, clouds, wind damage, and other signs of the storm. It didn’t take me long to realize meteorology was the career of choice for me.”
While at Lyndon State College, Chris undertook a number of internships, including two at television stations in Portland, Maine. He also took part in a large national thunderstorm field research project known as “Bowecho And Mcv Experiment” or "BAMEX". His research into the causes of damaging winds mechanisms within large groups of thunderstorms became his senior thesis.
When he’s not chasing thunderstorms or forecasting the weather, Chris can be found hiking, biking, skiing, running, snow shoeing, canoeing, cooking or playing guitar.