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Show SpecialFeatures Page 6 Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Congratulations to the 2011 Valedictorians College of Agriculture Jason Clark Jason Clark is an "Aggie." He is the 2011 valedictorian from the College of Agriculture and was named USU's official valedictorian, the only one invited to speak at the university-wide graduation. "I'm excited and nervous to speak in front of everybody, but it's fun to get recognized like that," Clark said. He said his speech advises graduates to take things they've learned, especially work ethic, look at the big picture and do something different. "Being valedictorian wasn't even on my mind. My adviser told me my GPA might be high enough for it, so I interviewed with the dean, wrote a speech and somehow got the job," Clark said. During his tenure at USU, Clark was a religious attendee of Aggie basketball games. "One of my favorite memories at Utah State is when we beat BYU. I'll miss racing College of Education and Human Services Lauryn Low f. BENJAMIN WOOD ph for seats in the student section," he said. Clark will attend USU for a graduate degree in plant science and wants to research ways to increase production and make crops more sustainable. He said he would like to help third world countries improve farming techniques. — kmarshal1222@gmail.corn Elementary education major Lauryn Low is this year's valedictorian for the College of Education and Human Services. "I love to learn," Low said. "And with education you get to continue learning and work with kids at the same time. What could be more fun than that?" Low is now finishing up her student teaching at Crescent Elementary in Salt Lake City. "It wasn't ever my goal to be the valedictorian, but I've always valued doing my best," she said. Low succeeded at being the best, finishing school with a 4.0 GPA. She also participated in Full Circle, USU's contemporary dance company, and Starz, a group of students that go to elementary schools in Cache Valley to help students with reading and math. Because of her interest in musical theater, she also volunteered at Cache Valley's opera house. "USU has prepared me really well right from the start. They have the program set up Huntsman School of Business Curtis Fairbourn Curtis Fairbourn, valedictorian for the Huntsman School of Business, is a finance major and is graduating after only 3.5 years at USU. Fairbourn has been an academic mentor in the school of business and participated in several internships. He also studied abroad in Europe, visiting Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and France. Fairbourn said one of his most memorable experiences at USU happened two years ago when he met his wife. Introduced through mutual friends, they met during Week of Welcome. "I love the campus life up here; the social life. There are a lot of great people," he said. After graduation, Fairbourn plans to pursue an MBA. Most programs require a few years of work experience, so his formal education will be on temporary hold. For now, he is working out the details of his speech. He's waiting for "inspiration," but has ideas he plans to include. "It's an honor to be able to speak. I want to say something that can relate to the people and the school. I don't want to be this big, motivational lookat-me, but to relate to a bunch of peers graduating at the same time," Fairbourn said. —genevieve.draper@aggiemail.usu.edu Rachel Jaggi, College of HASS valedictorian, triple majored in German, Sociology and International Studies. "I was German first. When I came I didn't really know what I wanted to study but I knew I wanted to minor in German," Jaggi said. "Then I did study abroad and that ended up giving me enough credits for a major." Jaggi said her other majors came out of her wide, varied interests. She was attracted to the interdisciplinary international studies because she could take classes from economics, history or political science. After graduation, she said she will work and apply for graduate school, where she plans to study sociology. Jaggi has accomplished a lot in four years here at Utah State. In addition to her 4.0, she was honored as the HASS Outstanding Student of the Year in both German and Sociology, and nominated for HASS scholar of the year. She also ,iIVWOOD photo at USU, both inside and out of the classroom," Randall said. "In fact, I feel like most of my education and skill development has happened outside the classroom." — jessie.a.sweat@aggiemadusu.edu photo courtesy CALEB KA UFFMAN "I just showed up to class and did what was asked of me," he said. • 1-To. •ing Pizza Lane ONLY $5.50 with student ID Earlier this year, Catherine Hatch was surprised to be summoned into the office of Craig Jessop, dean of the Caine College of the Arts. "I figured it had to be really good, or really bad, but probably good, " Hatch said. Hatch, a music performance major, learned she had been selected as valedictorian for her GPA, faculty recommendation, excellence in the music program and involvement in orchestra, band and a quartet.The Wellsville native said she has been involved with music her entire life, the clarinet being her specialty. Hatch said her most memorable experience at USU was winning a competition that allowed her to play a concerto with the orchestra. "It was such a great opportunity to perform with such a great ensemble," Hatch said. She plans on moving to Rexburg, Idaho, after getting married and will attend graduate school and continue to perform and teach. As for her speech, Hatch said, "I want to talk — natashabodily@gmail.corn Erinn Harris, a mathematics and statistics composite education major, will be the valedictorian for the College of Science for the 2010-11 school year. The West Valley City, Utah, native said the hardest part of achieving academic success came from the pressure she put on herself throughout her college career. "I was trying to figure out what professors' expectations were so I could meet them," she said. She said she qualified as valedictorian because she worked and studied hard in her classes to achieve good grades. Harris said she already has an idea for her speech. "I want to talk about how we are continually learning, whether we realize it or not," she said. "We need to be aware and open to those opportunities that will influence ourselves and others." Harris said her most memorable experience in college was meeting her husband at USU. She Science Unwrapped "Economics of Climate Change 101" Join us Friday, April 29. at 7 p.m. ESLC Auditorium Arthur Caplan www.usu.eduiscience/unwrapped `Like' our Facebook page Pick up only • No Limit • Good Until May 15th • call 435-792-3697 in different levels, and right from level one they had me in an elementary classroom, watching and learning from experience," she said. "I'm really grateful for everything I learned there." — kmarshal1222@gmadcom received the Legacy Award and the undergraduate researcher award. "That was pretty memorable, shaking the dean's hand so many times; getting up on the stage," Jaggi said. — genevieve.draper@aggiemaiLusu.edu • f BENJAMIN WOOD photo about how you can serve people through music and the arts. I want people to think how they can use their degree to help other people." — jessie.a.sweat@aggiemaiLusu.edu College of Science Erinn Harris 4 Student Special! rtesy LA Caine College of the Arts Catherine Hatch College of Natural Resources Caleb Kauffman Caleb Kauffman, a wildlife science major, graduated in December 2010 and started working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services in Sandusky, Ohio. He said he mostly works at airports by keeping the runways free of birds and wildlife to minimize strike risks to airplanes. Johan du Toit, department head of wildland resources, will escort Kauffman at commencement. For his speech, he said he has an interesting and unique life story to tell. "I think it will be good," he said. Kauffman, a Michigan native, said his most memorable experience at USU was completing his last final and knowing he was finally done. He said he did not do anything special to become the valedictorian. • College of Humanities and Social Sciences RachelJaggi College of Engineering BJ Randall In the last three years, BJ Randall, a computer engineering major from Hyde Park, Utah, has completed his degree requirements and held a steady 4.0 GPA, been employed three times in the software development field and is now valedictorian for the College of Engineering. For his senior project, Randall made his own 3D first-person shooter game. He said he personally wrote the 3D engine and the game allows up to 16 players while being compatible with devices such as the iPhone, mac and PC. "It is what I will take away from USU the most," Randall said. "I really think I developed myself a lot while making this project." Randall plans to continue working while completing independent projects on the side until he can venture out into the software business on his own. Randall said he will become an entrepreneur as he develops his own software and sells it. "I feel like I have really mastered the material t. RINN HARRIS said she they became engaged at the "You are here" sign on the Quad. After graduation, Harris plans to find a math teaching position at either a high school or junior high school. — natashabodily@gmaiLcom Today's PuzzitAnswers Super Crossword Answers DOD MEMO MEMO DMDM0 OMM DOOM DUI= UM= MDOMMMODM DMUMU DDMUM MUMM OMMOOM MUD DOD M000 MMUMUMOMMUMM MDMMUUMM MOH MMUM MMU MUDDM OMO nnnn MEMO MMODOMU MMUMMDMD MOM MUMMA MUM MOMM MOM AMMO MUM MUD MMOMMUM 00M MUMUUDM DMM MOM MMUM MUM COMM MUM DUMB DUMB OMMUOMMU MMOMUMM MUD MUM DOM unison MUD MMOM MUM MOMMOUUM DOMMUMODMOMM MUDD MUM MUM MODEM MOM MEMO BOUM MUDOMMUMM MEM MMOMM =IMMO MOM MEMO UOMM MODOM 01210 ra Emu igH A Ai D "African Ta king Drum" Melly Irk 314-6,* (MOO |