Commencement 2011

This spring's commencement address was delivered by Stephanie K. Canada, an ECU graduate (class of '95) who taught grades 1 through 5 at Will Rogers Elementary School in Shawnee from 2003 to 2008. She was was named Oklahoma Teacher of the Year for 2008.

Canada talked to graduates about the pride she felt as a first-generation college graduate in 1995 (and the embarrassment she felt after the ceremony, when she and her family had lunch at the Golden Corral, and her grandmother removed her dentures and put them on the table).

"When you get into the world . . . constantly engage and participate in the world as a thinking person," Canada advised all.  "Change your world from your very small corner of it."

I counted eleven English majors listed in the program as candidates for Bachelor's degrees: Joshua Dwayne Forrester, Brandon Michael Frye, SharLee Dawn Knighten (bottom left), Chad Allen Large, Tyler Ray Lee, DeAnna Russell (middle right), Jennifer Diane Sanchez (top right), Alexandra Royer Taussig (bottom right), Bryson Cole Vann (middle left), Patricia Ruth Vogan (top left), and Rodney Alvin Weaverling.  (Not listed in the program:  McKae Goetzinger.) Graduates with Minors supported by the Department of English and Languages included Hannah Medrano (English) and Cynthia Mellon (English as a Second Language), Rebecca Bottoms, Bryson J. Dunn (Humanities), and Shawn Ryan (Russian).

Congratulations to all! (And thanks for the pics, Dr. Murphy!)

Conceptual Poetry at the White House

Kenneth Goldsmith at Street Poets and Visionaries Mercer Union.
Toronto, 2009  Photo Credit: © C. Jones

Dr. Tribbey sends us the following heads-up:  

"Conceptual poet and co-editor of the anthology of conceptual poetry Against Expression with Craig Dworkin, Kenneth Goldsmith is going to read his work at the White House.

“An Evening of Poetry”

Event Continues Arts Education Series at the White House on May 11th

The President and Mrs. Obama will host a celebration of American poetry and prose by welcoming accomplished poets, musicians and artists as well as students from across the country to the White House next week. Participants include Elizabeth Alexander, Billy Collins, Common, Rita Dove, Kenneth Goldsmith, Alison Knowles, Aimee Mann and Jill Scott who will read, sing, and showcase the impact of poetry on American culture. The President will make opening remarks at this event held in the East Room, which will be pooled press and streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.