Wisconsin’s longest
serving congressman will address University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduates
and their families at spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16.
David R. Obey, who
represented Wisconsin’s 7th District for 42 years and helped launch
several innovative programs at UW-Stevens Point, will speak. He will also
receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the university, the
second one conferred in UW-Stevens Point’s history.
Nearly 1,400 graduates
will earn associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in ceremonies at
9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the UW-Stevens Point Health Enhancement Center.
The student speaker at
9:30 a.m. will be Joao Castro Silva Jr., a computer information systems –
application development major from Stevens Point. New alumni will be welcomed
by Clint and Jamie Kriewaldt of Seymour, alumni of the classes of 2008 and
2001.
The 2 p.m. speaker will be
Alisa Damitz, a graduate student in speech language pathology from Cudahy. Welcoming
the new alumni will be Andrew and Shana Halverson of Stevens Point, alumni of
the classes of 2001 and 2002.
Senior Dana Carlson, a
choral music education major from Somerset, will sing the national anthem and
UW-Stevens Point’s alma mater. She will be accompanied by the UW-Stevens Point
Band, directed by Jon Caldwell.
Guests may park in any
campus lot (for free) except Lot F West, which will be used for handicap
access.
Obey, who grew up in
Wausau, made significant contributions to higher education, the state and the
nation. He supported several federal student programs, increases to Pell grants
and reduced interest rates for student loans.
At UW-Stevens Point he
helped secure funding for the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology,
the Geographic Information Systems Training Center, and the Trainer Natural
Resources addition and environmental education.
Obey was elected to the
Wisconsin Assembly in 1962 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 1969. He
served on the Labor,
Health and Social Services and Education Subcommittee and Appropriation
Committee for 35 years, including four as chairman. He also served as chair of
the Foreign Operations Appropriation Subcommittee. He was an advocate for education, public health,
political transparency and humanitarian assistance in the United States and
abroad.
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