Indiana State University has announced the lineup of speakers for its 2018 spring commencement, set for May 12 at Hulman Center.
Shalynn McNeal of Michigan City, Ind., who is completing her bachelor's degree in communication with a concentration in journalism, and Shan Antony of Mishawaka, Ind., who is completing his bachelor's degree in health sciences with a concentration in health administration, have been selected as student speakers.
McNeal served as vice president, president and peer mentor in the 21st Century Scholars Program, was a member of campus' Society of Professional Journalists and was cast in a lead role as Nettie in the campus performance of "The Color Purple" her freshman year. In her final semester at State, McNeal interned with KPLR11 and FOX2 in Maryland Heights, Mo.
She plans to apply to graduate school to study public relations and marketing. In the future, McNeal hopes to become a producer in California.
"I have gone through a lot during my four years of college, and I think I can make an impact on my peers by sharing my journey at ISU. I came up with a theme for my speech, ‘The Graduation Race'," said McNeal, who ran cross country and track in high school. "The message is simple but the meaning is true, that life and college are like a race. There are unexpected things you'll encounter along the way, but you have to go out and give it your all. Graduation is just one part of it, and I want to encourage the graduates to finish this race we are all in."
A graduate of Michigan City High School, McNeal will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences, Scott College of Business and Bayh College of Education.
Antony, a Rural Health Scholar, participated in Campus Ministry for four years and served as president of the Pre-Medicine Association and as vice president of finances for Timmy Global Health. Through Timmy Global Health, he traveled twice to Ecuador as part of a medical brigade.Antony is engaged to get married in June before enrolling this fall at the Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute. He intends to pursue a career as a primary care physician.
"I feel indebted to Indiana State for giving me so many opportunities I thought I would never have. I think having that passion made it easy for me to create a speech that would honor ISU and well represent the undergraduate experience," he said. "I hope the graduates hear my speech and remember not to take for granted the opportunities ISU has granted us. I also want them to remember that getting a college degree is as much of a burden as it is a blessing - while they have the capability to be individually successful, they have the responsibility to serve those who may not have had the same opportunities."
A graduate of Penn High School, Antony will speak at the 3 p.m. ceremony for the College of Health and Human Services and College of Technology.Alumni speaker for both ceremonies will be Ron Culp, '70, a founding member and former chair of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and professional director of the graduate program in public relations and advertising in DePaul University's College of Communication.
Both ceremonies will be livestreamed at https://www.indstate.edu/academic-affairs/commencement/live. A broadcast of the processionals will begin approximately 15 minutes prior to each ceremony.
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Photo: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DCfx9PM/1/21bb3304/XL/i-DCfx9PM-XL… - Shan Antony
Photo: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-HxKHjRz/0/cedc4557/X3/i-HxKHjRz-X3… - Shalynn McNeal
Photo: https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Submitted-Photos/Staff-… - Ron Culp
Media contact: Betsy Simon, assistant director of media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-7972, betsy.simon@indstate.edu