Sharing the Spotlight at Graduation

By: Jasmine Brown

Posted: 4/29/09

Caitlin Brown, a 22 year-old senior from Modesto, CA, was announced this years graduation commencement speaker.

After maintaining a GPA at NDNU of 3.9, a minimum of 46 upper-division units earned, and outstanding writing and speaking skills, Brown was selected to do the honors out of seven other students who competed.

"I am very excited and this is an amazing feeling and also overwhelming," said Brown.

"I feel thankful and humbled. I wasn't going after it and didn't except it. I am very thankful that somebody noticed my work and realized all that I have done. I worked really hard," Brown said.

Jan Lennon, Executive Assistant to the Provost and also the coordinator of the committee, thought very highly of Brown.

"I met her when she was competing. She's so confident. She's great, and this is a real honor," Lennon said. Brown is a Communications and Theatre Arts double major and Dance minor. Intelligent and confident says it all.

Brown has written for the Argonaut, worked in theatre, and been involved in community activities with Belmont and NDNU.

"What people forget here is that you can do a lot in this community," Brown said.

"Students are not trying hard enough and don't see the big picture. The professors are great and people should take advantage," Brown said.

Brown was given a scholarship to enter NDNU as a freshman. She was a presidential scholar and NDNU paid everything for her except room and board.

"The campus is beautiful and NDNU was very generous to me," Brown said.

"You can do a lot her and I was given a chance to make a difference," Brown said.

Brown has been an exceptional student since entering NDNU in 2005. She has made good friends and memories that she will never forget.

Brown's favorite memory was her freshman year when she became very sick and had to stay home. When she came back for a day, she was surprised to see how people reacted to seeing her again.

Brown has made an impact on students at NDNU and her friends reward her on her success.

"She has such an amazing view point on things that you normally wouldn't think about. She has a big heart and is very loyal to her friends," said Natalie Albanese, a close friend to Brown.

"Caitlin is very deserving of this award and I am very proud to be her friend," Albanese said.

For Brown's speech, she plans on saying what the school has done for her, and what lessons she has learned from being here.