t Student Speakers Dan"iel A. Vandehey Noel delaCruz DANIEL A. VANDEHEy is graduating with a bachelort degree in communication studies. As a first, generation college student from a farming background, he did not realize the value of a college education. After being in the workforce for many years with no opportunity of advancement without the proper education, Mr. Vandehey decide to study a field that would give him rhe opporruniry ro learn new skills. His hard work has paid off. He is recogniz ed as a 2017 Distinguished Graduate in the pSU Deparrmenr of Communicarion. In his free time, Mr. Vandehey enjoys low-key gatherings with Friends, working with computers, and maintaining his 26-gallon planted aquarium wirh his aqua-scaping techniques. After graduation, he will continue his srudies by pursuing a Master of Science in communication and working as a graduate teaching assisrant in the Department of Communication at PSU. Mr. Vandehey would like to thank his wife Dawn, son Shane, and daughter Emma, for going without many of the comforrs to which they had become accustomed so he could pursue his dream. He is also thankful for professor L. David Ritchie and Professor Lee Shaker for their hours ofindividual attention and continued supporr. NOEL DELACRUZ will receive her Bachelor ofArts in conflio resolution. After attending her daughtert Freshman Orientation at PSU in 2015, Ms. delaCruz realized she could pursue her dream of completing her bachelort degree without the need ofadditional math classes, a subject she feared. During her time at Portland State, she was able to find the support and validation to become more confident in herself and find her voice both inside and outside of the classroom. Representing the graduating class ol 201- as a srudenr speaker is rhe culminarion of her education experience, and she no longer feels invisible. In her free time, Ms. delaCruz is an aspiring author, avid hiker, and enjoys spending rime wirh her rwo active grown children, three dogs, and an African Grey parrot. After graduation, she will return to Portland State Universiry ro pursue a Master of Conflict Resolution. Ms. delaCruz would like to thank Eldon delaCruz for his support and encouragement and her two beautiful children, E.J. and Cheyenne, for expressing their enthusiasm and supporr of her goals. She is tremendously grateful to her professors in the Conflict Resolution Department, including Robert Gould, Amanda Byron and Tom Hastings.
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