Commencement Speeches
Today we recognize our graduates’ accomplishments. Our video celebration includes a message from President Davenport as well as speeches from each of the six student speakers who were selected to speak during commencement ceremonies.
Saturday, May Ninth
Two Thousand Twenty
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Commencement Video
Watch the full commencement video celebration, including the president's greetings, student speeches, the Maverick Machine playing the rouser and a special alumni reflection from Rolf Middleton ’63.
Greetings
President Richard Davenport
In his 18th year leading Minnesota State University, Mankato, President Richard Davenport offers a congratulatory message to the class of 2020.
Graduation Speakers
College of Allied Health and Nursing
Matthew Schiffmann
Matthew Schiffmann is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in recreation, parks and leisure services with a concentration in resource management. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska.
Matthew has always enjoyed nature and the outdoors. He volunteers off and on campus through Circle K and at Minnesota State Parks around Mankato. He hopes to help others learn to appreciate and preserve our natural resources. Matthew has a special passion for making parks accessible to all while maintaining their integrity and natural elements.
He says his professors and fellow students made his studies especially impactful. Matthew’s advice is, “Don't be afraid to try [new things] and explore your options. You never know where the path may lead you.”
After graduation, he hopes to continue working for the State of Minnesota with future dreams of working for the National Park Service.
He looks back at his time at Minnesota State, Mankato fondly and feels a special connection to Robert Frost’s poem, "The Road Not Taken.”
College of Arts and Humanities
Holly Dodge
Holly Dodge is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing along with an art studio minor. She is from North Mankato, Minnesota.
Holly enjoys reading, writing, poetry, painting, and playing the piano. Holly cherishes all the classroom activities, engaging conversations, debates, and discussions that she had with other engaged, passionate students and faculty. She believes that they have all had a huge impact on her education.
“The motivating spirit of encouragement, collaboration, and inspiration is something that is contagious within the halls of Armstrong,” she says. She asks us to get out of our comfort zones to achieve our goals!
Holly stays busy as a mom to two children and plans to continue her studies in graduate school, also working as a teaching assistant. She currently works with an NGO to provide food to youth on weekends and school breaks. She is also working on a poetry manuscript for publication.
College of Business
Margaret Knier
Maggie Knier is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in marketing. She is from Big Lake, Minnesota.
Swimming is a huge part of her life—she swam on Minnesota State University, Mankato’s swim team for all four years of her college career. She was also an active member of the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. She had a great time here on campus, thanks to her professors, coaches, and peers. She thoroughly enjoyed the University’s entrepreneurship competition, the Big Ideas Challenge, where she won first prize in 2019.
After graduation, she is excited to pursue a career in sales. She hopes to find a position as a salesperson for an advertising agency.
She believes, “Sometimes the best things happen when you step out of your comfort zone, don't be afraid to take that step.”
College of Education
Shaelyn Kawlewski
Shealyn Kawlewski is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in special education. She grew up in North Mankato, Minnesota.
Shealyn is passionate about theatre and music and is involved in a handful of local productions. She also loves writing and has taken part in national writing contests. She contributes to clean water projects by raising money through charitable events. Her favorite aspects of her degree are designing individualized, meaningful instruction for kids and researching each student’s unique educational needs in order to best support them.
Although she is not sure about the long term, after graduation she plans to teach at a school for individuals who are deaf in Ghana through the Peace Corps.
She says, “Life has a way of working itself out if we just let it! Don't fear change as it always brings with it a new adventure.”
College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Mesoma Akaolisa
Mesoma Akaolisa is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. She grew up in Lagos, Nigeria.
Mesoma loves to sing and play the flute. She is a hard worker and is passionate about mentoring and encouraging young girls of color to pursue a career in STEM. She was involved in student club activities and the National Society of Black Engineers.
She says that Mankato has been like a second home to her. Mesoma is a first-generation college graduate and speaks three languages, and she is the only woman in her graduating class of 44 men. She asks everyone to stay true to themselves and to always follow their dreams.
Mesoma feels that her program has incorporated as much real-world experience as possible into her studies and she thanks her professors for her success. After graduation, she will start working as a project engineer at Exxon Mobil.
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Sussana Machinga
Sussana Machinga is a double major and is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in mass media and a Bachelor of Science in psychology. She is from Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Sussana believes her degrees have taught her the importance of communication, the art of self-presentation, and the ability to look at things from different perspectives. These skills help her manage life circumstances, reach personal goals, and achieve success.
She loves to dance, play sports, eat, and watch movies. During her time at Minnesota State, Mankato, Sussana was involved in the community, contributing her time to the African Student Association, African American Affairs, the Kearney International Center, Student Ambassadors, Minnesota State Mankato’s Women’s Rugby, Residential Life, and many other organizations on campus.
After graduation, Sussana wants to gain a Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology, specializing in forensic psychology. She eventually plans to provide psycho-education and mental health awareness back home in Zimbabwe and other African countries.
The Maverick Machine Virtual Rouser
The Maverick Machine came together via Zoom to perform the University rouser.
ALUMNI REFLECTION
Rolf Middleton ’63 reflects on his experience as a student and how Minnesota State University, Mankato has had an impact on his life.
