Spring commencement speakers announced

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Six speakers will address graduating students during spring commencement exercises at Bowling Green State University on May 4 and 5.

Speaking will be Judson Laipply of Cleveland, who is perhaps best known for his Internet video “The Evolution of Dance”; Westerville business executive Tom Orchard of UBS Wealth Management; Chicagoan Henry Fogel, president and CEO of the American Symphony Orchestra League, and BGSU seniors Janna Carpenter of Bowling Green, Chanel Griffith of Jamaica, N.Y., and Matt Lefeld of Coldwater.

Four separate graduation ceremonies are planned on Bowling Green's main campus. All will take place at Anderson Arena in Memorial Hall.

Laipply, who earned a master's degree in education at BGSU in 2000, will speak at 7 p.m. May 4 during the Graduate College commencement ceremonies.

A motivational speaker and “inspirational comedian,” the Cleveland resident has performed at more than 500 events and shows, including the Creative Emmys, the NBA Finals and “Good Morning America,” as well as at countless schools and corporations such as Verizon, American Airlines and Sony. His “Evolution of Dance” became the most-watched video in Internet history when it surpassed 100 million views in less than nine months. He has since founded “Let's Dance Media,” a company that explores the use of new media and creative content.

Orchard, a native of Lima and 1975 BGSU alumnus, will speak to graduating students in the College of Arts & Sciences during ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5.

Orchard is a licensed New York Stock Exchange supervisor and NYSE registered representative, Chicago Board of Options Exchange registered options principal and Chicago Board of Trade associated person. He is currently senior vice president of investments and senior portfolio manger for UBS Wealth Management, a division of UBS AG. He is a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advocates, the Dean's Council and the BGSU Presidents Club, and has served in various capacities for the Columbus Foundation and the Greater Columbus Area Salvation Army.

Fogel will speak at 1 p.m. ceremonies May 5 for students graduating in the College of Education and Human Development and in the College of Musical Arts.

Prior to joining the American Symphony Orchestra League, Fogel spent 18 years as president of the Chicago Symphony. He also previously served as executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. and was orchestra manager of the New York Philharmonic. Business Week magazine named him one of the five best managers of cultural organizations in the United States in 1990.

Carpenter, Griffith and Lefeld will give their commencement addresses at 4:30 p.m. May 5 at graduation ceremonies for students in the College of Technology, College of Health and Human Services, and College of Business Administration.

Carpenter is a bachelor's degree candidate majoring in visual communication technology in the College of Technology. An Alumni Laureate Scholar, she has been involved in a number of organizations, among them the President's Leadership Academy, Student Alumni Connection, University Ambassadors, Mortar Board national honor society and the Bowling Green Black Swamp Players. Named to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, she plans to further her education in the area of printing management after graduation.

Griffith, a senior in the College of Health and Human Services, is a bachelor's degree candidate in criminal justice. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society, the University Honors Program, the Law Society, the Criminal Justice Organization and the Academic Honesty Committee. She also has served as president of the Black Student Union, scholarship chair for Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and a peer facilitator for BG Experience, the University's values exploration program. Griffith plans to attend law school at George Washington University.

A student in the College of Business Administration, Lefeld is a bachelor's degree candidate in business administration with a specialization in supply chain management. A four-year letterman on the Falcon basketball team, he was named an Academic All-American during the 2006-07 season. He also has served as chapter president for the Institute of Supply Management and served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee his sophomore year.

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(Posted April 17, 2007)