News Release
____________________________________________________________
December 12, 2005
Editor’s note: Following this release is a colorful story about Richard
and Ann Klautsch, who will once again read aloud the names of each Boise
State graduate at the ceremony. You are free to use this story or call
Richard at 426-1500 to set up your own interview.
Media Advisory
What: Boise State graduate stories
When: Commencement, 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 16
Where: Taco Bell Arena
Boise State will host its 76th Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec.
16, in Taco Bell Arena with President Bob Kustra officiating.
Approximately 550 students are expected to attend the ceremony. In all,
1,308 students have qualified for graduation since the May 2005
Commencement, earning a total of 1,376 degrees or certificates.
As with any graduation ceremony, Boise State’s will be filled with happy
graduates, proud family members and inspirational stories. A few of these
follow. Contact numbers are provided for each graduate. If you’d like to
speak with someone that day, please plan to arrive at least 45 minutes early
so we can attempt to find them in the crowd. A representative from our
office will be at Taco Bell Arena Entrance 1 to assist in helping you locate
graduates or university officials.
ADA COUNTY SHERIFF NABS A SECOND DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney will receive his Master of Arts degree
in criminal justice administration. Raney has worked at the Sheriff’s Office
for more than 22 years. He was elected sheriff in November 2004 and assumed
the office on Jan. 10, 2005, after Vaughn Killeen’s retirement. He also
earned a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice at Boise State in 1986
at the start of his career. Raney said that as he moved up into supervision
and management, he recognized more and more the value of a higher education.
His desire to pursue a master’s degree had both a personal and professional
basis; he felt an obligation to the community to not just take his position
for granted. “In criminal justice, it’s not just about skill-building,” he
said. “It’s more about policy making and broadening my perspective.” As a
side note, Boise State spirit runs high at the Raney home. Raney’s wife,
Suzan [name is cq], is also a Boise State graduate and works as an
administrative assistant in the criminal justice office. Both Raneys are
huge Bronco football fans and Raney has many criminal justice graduates on
his staff. Raney can be reached at 577-3306.
SENIOR FOLLOWS CALLING TO EARN SECOND BOISE STATE DEGREE, THIRD OVERALL
When 74-year-old former missionary C.L. “Brad” Bradburn is presented
with a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology, it will be his third college
degree and his second from Boise State. In 1953, he graduated from
International Bible College in San Antonio, Texas, and in 2001 he earned a
B.A. in Spanish. Following his first graduation in 1953, he worked as a
pastor for a year or two before being hired to teach at a Bible college in
Japan. From there he was recruited by the Assemblies of God to translate for
their older missionaries in Japan. He also interpreted for businessmen and
ministers from all over the world and helped build eight churches in Japan
for the Assemblies of God.
When his children got older, he returned to the Treasure Valley so his
oldest son could attend Boise State. That’s when he began to seriously
consider returning to the classroom himself. Since Boise State didn’t offer
a Japanese major, he enrolled in 1993 as a Spanish major. Following his 2001
graduation, he took two years off to spend more time with his grandchildren,
then returned to campus to complete a degree in anthropology (he was only 18
credits shy when he got his Spanish degree). Next he’s considering a degree
in English as a Second Language and toying with the idea of teaching Spanish
and Japanese at the high school level. In addition to his studies, he works
with the university’s Asian University program, translating for Japanese
university students studying at Boise State. Bradburn can be reached at
344-0149.
BRONCO LINEMAN SCORES ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Two major events will occur in Daryn Colledge’s life this month. On
Dec. 16 he will graduate from Boise State University with a bachelor’s
degree in communication. A week and a half later, on Dec. 28, he will play
his final game for the Bronco football team in the MPC Computers Bowl.
Little did Colledge know when he was recruited in 2000 by then-assistant
coach Dan Hawkins from North Pole, Alaska, to play football at Boise State
that he would finish his career as one of the greatest offensive linemen in
school history.
“When I first came here, I had no idea what was in store for me,” said
Colledge. “My time at Boise State has been unbelievable. I experienced so
much, enjoyed success on the football team, and met my wife here.”
Colledge’s wife, Megan, graduated last December from Boise State with a
degree in criminal justice administration and is currently a graduate
student at BSU.
While Colledge’s days as a student and athlete at Boise State are almost
over, his football-playing days more than likely have just begun. A few
weeks after the MPC Computers Bowl, Colledge will play in the Senior Bowl;
after that his next stop is probably the NFL. “We’ll just to have to see
what happens. But, yeah, I have NFL aspirations,” said Colledge, who was
named to a handful of All-America teams as a junior last season and is an
All-America candidate again this year. “Once the Senior Bowl is over, I’ll
keep on working out, participate in the (NFL) combines and wait and see what
happens.”
To reach Colledge for an interview, contact Max Corbet, assistant athletic
director for media relations, at 426-1515.
HARD WORK TRANSLATES TO BIZ DEGREE FOR HONOR STUDENT
Kara Fink is an international business major with minors in German
and marketing. She’s anxiously awaiting word on her application to study in
Eastern Germany next year as a Fulbright scholar. Following graduation,
she’ll be working with a small Idaho company to help them expand their
international sales.
Fink was nominated for the USA Today All Academic Team, which will be
announced early next semester. A 2001 graduate of Centennial High School in
Boise, Fink is a member of the Honors College, the Student Alumni
Association, the Boise State Ambassadors, the Honors Student Association,
the Student Union Board of Governors and the Boise State Vocal Jazz
Ensemble. The recipient of numerous scholarships, Fink studied overseas in
Thailand in 2004 and Germany in 2003. She is the former director of the
Boise State Volunteer Services Board and is an active volunteer in the Boise
community, including working with the Botanical Garden, Zoo Boise, Big
Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boise Rescue Mission and the Boise Food Warehouse.
Fink can be reached at 870-1731.
NEW GRAD TO LEAVE FOR OFFICER BOOT CAMP, WILL MISS BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD
A few weeks after Ben Steffens receives his bachelor’s degree in
mechanical engineering, he’ll leave for Montgomery, Ala., where he’ll enter
the officer training program at Maxwell Air Force Base. Steffens’ wife
Ramajana is seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child, and
Steffens will be unable to return to their home in Mountain Home when she
delivers. It won’t be easy for Steffens to be hundreds of miles away when
his wife goes into labor, but he’s hoping he can get to a telephone on base
in time for the delivery. Steffens plans on a career as a development
engineer with the Air Force. He grew up in a military family and was born in
Spain; Spanish is his first language. Steffens can be reached a 587-0850
(home), 590-1809 (cell) or
BenjaminSteffens@mail.boisestate.edu.
For more information, please contact Kathleen Craven, Communications
Specialist, at 426-3275 or
kcraven@boisestate.edu.
BONUS STORY:
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
By Kathleen Craven
Boise State News Services
Wanted: Volunteer announcers for Boise State University’s semiannual
Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 in the Taco Bell Arena. The
successful candidate will stand on the edge of the stage and read aloud 550
names (first, last and occasionally middle) as graduates step forward to
receive their diplomas. Names must be pronounced correctly, even if they
contain no vowels or sound nothing like they look. And one more thing —
you’ll only have a second or two to look at each name before proclaiming it
out loud to 10,000 adoring friends and family members.
Sound intimidating? That’s exactly what Richard Klautsch, chair of the
Theatre Arts Department and principal actor for the Idaho Shakespeare
Festival, thought in 2000 when then-Boise State President Charles Ruch asked
him to fill the job. Before then, names were read in small college groups by
department chairs and deans who likely knew most of the graduates. This
would be the first time in decades that the whole university would graduate
together and Klautsch was overwhelmed by the task. So he did the natural
thing — he brought his wife Ann, also a theatre professor and professional
actress, into the fray. The pair have collectively been the “Voice of
Commencement” ever since.
Not only do the couple get unfamiliar names from far-flung countries in
Europe, Asia and beyond, they sometimes have to make snap judgments on
ambiguous names such as Prouty (is it Prow-Tee, Proo-Tee, or something
altogether different?).
“Sometimes the line will slow down and I’ll look [a graduate] in the eye and
point to their difficult last name,” said Ann. “One time a girl leaned over
and whispered, ‘Diane,’ but didn’t even mention the last name.”
And being rushed can lead to embarrassing mistakes if they’re caught
off-guard. Richard recalls his first ceremony, when he glanced at a card and
saw two initials and a last name. Before he could stop himself he had
confidently announced, “I. M. Spartacus,” eliciting giggles from the
audience and those guests seated on the stage.
Ann recalls an equally embarrassing moment when a helpful young woman named
Noel had written her name out phonetically — “No” and “L” with an arrow
pointing to the “L.” Ann assumed that meant the “L” was silent, and despite
thinking that was odd, she read her name as “No.”
“We need to do a lot of mental editing,” she said, to figure out what
students mean and to make sure they aren’t adding in “extras” such as the
middle name of Budweiser (yes, it happens).
Despite all the pressure, after five years and 13,000 names, both Klautsches
said they’re proud to be part of such an important moment in students’
lives, and to see, perhaps for one last time, a favorite student walk across
the stage before heading off to new adventures.
They’re also glad for one other thing: “So far,” Richard said, “we haven’t
had anyone get mad at us.”
The Office of Communications and Marketing
-
Boise State University
1910 University Drive -
Education Building, #726 -
Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001
email communications@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Wednesday, February 01, 2006