Seniors prepare to celebrate commencement

Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8, will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the graduating class of 2022.

Graduating Bennies and Johnnies will congregate in their traditional caps and gowns in Clemens Field House and the Abbey Church to celebrate their pomp and circumstance and the end of their undergraduate endeavors at CSB and SJU.

Business executive LeAnne Matthews Stewart, the chair of the CSB/SJU Common Boards of Trustees, will give the CSB commencement address. Abbot John Klassen of St. John’s Abbey and S. Michaela Hedican, former prioress of St. Benedict’s Monastery will deliver the SJU commencement address.

Regan Dolezal, a political science major from Woodbury, Minn., will speak on behalf of her CSB classmates.

“[The speech] was fairly easy to write, honestly. It’s been a fantastic four years, and I’ve loved being able to be a member of the class I’m a part of. There’s so much to talk about, and it’s so easy to be excited and grateful,” Dolezal said.

Dolezal found out mid-March that she was going to speak after being nominated and selected by her fellow classmates.

“I’m pretty grateful and honored that my classmates would trust me with something like this because it’s in front of everyone on such as big day for all of us,” Dolezal said.

Jack Fogelberg, a global business leadership major from Edina, Minn., will give the SJU student commencement speech.

“The message of the speech is about how St. John’s is such a special place with such special people,”Fogelberg said.

When Fogelberg originally found out he was going to speak on behalf of the Johnnies, he felt honored and realized there was so much to say in limited amount of time.

“The Johnnies are very excited for the speech,” SJU senior Joey Linders said.

The ceremonies will take place after the traditional Baccalaureate Mass at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, in the Sacred Heart Chapel and Sunday, May 8, in the Abbey Church.

Both ceremonies will also provide opportunities to honor those faculty and staff retiring from CSB/SJU.

At CSB, Kathy Kurvers Henderson, former CSB trustee, and Susan Palmer, CSB vice president of finance and administration, will be presented with the CSB President’s Medal in honor of their retirement.

At SJU, Richard Adamson, SJU vice president of finance and administration, will receive the same recognition.

Seniors are allowed to stay on campus after commencement until May 8 at 6 p.m.

“It’ll be very sad to leave. I’m sure every senior Bennie can empathize that it will be very difficult. We’ve had a great community, we’ve made great friends and [we] have such a home support system here,” Dolezal said. “But that being said, I think the time has come to go. I think we’ve had every opportunity, and I’m excited to see what this next stage is going to look like for all of us.”