Rachel Richardson, one of RWC’s very own and a former Activist staffer, has been selected to give a commencement speech on June 11, graduation day at UC. Richardson was chosen by UC Senior Student Council, who put out an appeal for orators, one for each ceremony. Six people applied by completing an application and submitting it, along with a copy of the proposed speech they would be giving.
The council then conducted interviews of the applicants. According to Richardson, the council was looking for someone to represent the interests of the student body as a whole. They also considered student involvement on campus, grades, and the speech itself.
Richardson was chosen to give the speech at the afternoon ceremony in which RWC students will participate.
“In addition to my speech, grades and organizational involvement, I think one of the reasons I was selected is because I epitomize some of the qualities UC hopes to impart to its students,” Richardson said. “I previously attended NKU and then dropped out for a few years before resuming at RWC. I found that I possessed a deeper appreciation of the value of a college education upon returning because I had been in the workforce and could see the few opportunities available for non-degreed workers.”
Richardson has attended RWC for the past three years and will graduate this June with her Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. “I anticipate receiving my bachelors next June in History,” she says.
She is in the UC Honors Program and maintains a 3.85 GPA.
She has contributed to the Activist and UC’s News Record, and is involved with the History Club and RWC War Games Club. She also is a member of the UC Academic Quiz Team.
She will receive an Outstanding Achievement Award in Spanish at the May 20 student awards ceremony. She is also the RWC Department of History, Art History, Philosophy and Political Science Honor Student of the Year for 2005.
Along with all of her involvement and hard work, she is also holding a full time job in marketing communications. Her long term goal is to join the Peace Corps and then go on to Graduate School. She would like to gain employment with an organization by the name of USAID, “Which not only furthers America’s foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets, but also develops social, economic, and political programs to benefit the peoples living in the 160 countries it services,” Richardson explained. Dr. Sue Sipple, one of Richardson’s RWC professors, said, “I think it’s a nice honor for RWC that one of ours will be speaking.