Des Moines Register
05-06-06
ISU to send graduates on their way
ERIC LUND
REGISTER CORRESPONDENT
Ames, Ia. — Iowa State University officials expected to confer degrees to nearly
2,700 students during the spring undergraduate commencement ceremony this
afternoon.
At the 1:30 p.m. event, students who came to Iowa from all over the country and
the world will walk across a stage in Hilton Coliseum with their peers, completing
an important stage in life.
To learn about the world, he saw the world
When Sean Johnson came to Iowa State in 2002, he wanted to find an area of
study that interested him within the field of environmental science.
Four years and six trips abroad later, the Chicago native said he's found that
interest in studying water-supply issues. He plans to attend Yale University to get
a doctorate in aquatic chemistry. As an undergraduate at ISU, Johnson took trips
ranging from a week to a semester to study in Antarctica, Australia, Canada,
India, Morocco and Uruguay.
"I've kind of made it a goal to see the planet I'm studying," Johnson said.
During his travels he saw the absurd — a polar bear raiding a garbage dump in
Canada — and the life-changing — water shortages in Morocco and grave
poverty in India.
He said he eventually hopes to work as a policy consultant, advising government,
industry and international organizations.
"I'd like to have a leadership role in international water policy,'' Johnson said.
Getting agronomy degree was 'a good choice'
David Keninger, 51, is an agronomy major and owns a farm in Ackley.
College was a way to fine-tune his farming practices. On the way, he learned
how to type a paper.
"My typing skills were hunt-and-peck,'' he said.
Keninger said he made the hourlong commute from Ackley to Ames for class,
which got especially hectic in spring as work on his farm picked up.
"I've really enjoyed working with the professors," he said. "They bend over
backwards to work around my schedule."
Keninger said he has only been mistaken for a professor once in his time at ISU.
It was during a blood drive when he was ushered to the front of the line.
"I thought this was all right" until a blood drive worker asked him when he would
teach his next class, he said.
Keninger said he began seriously considering getting his degree after a canoe
trip to the Boundary Waters in Canada. The group he was with talked one night
about choices in life.
"It definitely was a good choice," he said.
From New York to Ames, and now west again
Anne Rossi grew up in New York, but she had to come to Iowa to get a college
education.
Rossi, an agronomy major, said she also considered Penn State and Cornell
universities, but chose Iowa State after visiting with members of the ISU
agronomy department.
"I grew up on a small family farm ... I was kind of looking for an agronomy
program," she said. "There aren't as many schools on the East Coast that have
agriculture programs.''
Rossi, who is also in Iowa State's honors program and was active on the soil
judging team, grew up in the small town of Red Hook, N.Y., a few hours from
New York City.
She said she plans to continue her westward migration with graduate studies at
the University of California at Riverside studying soil and water sciences.
"I'm interested in soil development processes,'' Rossi said, adding that she would
eventually like to study soil development processes, potentially with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service.
Two sisters combine to complete five majors
It's hard to tell from the diplomas, but Jacqueline and Sandra Wenke are only two
people.
The sisters from Douds will graduate today with five majors between them.
Jacqueline, 22, pictured below at right, graduated with majors in agricultural
business, economics and international agriculture and plans to work for
Monsanto.
Sandra, 25, received degrees in agricultural education and agricultural
engineering, and said she was only one course short of a math degree.
Time was a valuable resource for the two at college, so calling professors at odd
hours was part of getting the job done, they said.
Sandra said she once called a professor at 2 a.m., and the professor seemed
happy that a student was so interested in her class.
Jacqueline said after graduation, she'll initially be working at Monsanto's location
in Remington, Ind., and could eventually relocate to Costa Rica or one of
Monsanto's other international sites.
Sandra said she's planning on keeping her options open, and is considering
getting a job as a teacher, or an engineer if she wants a higher salary.
Eventually, she said, she wants to marry and have kids, and could give up her
career "for a time" to raise them.
"Or, if I make more money, then the husband is staying home,'' she said.
If you go
Iowa State University undergraduate commencement ceremonies are at 1:30
p.m. today at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.
he ceremony for master's and doctoral students was held Friday. The College of
Veterinary Medicine expects to confer 106 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
degrees during a noon ceremony today in Stephens Auditorium.
Guests attending the graduation ceremonies do not need to purchase tickets.