Note: You might find it interesting that this article in the San
Antonio College student newspaper “The Ranger” which features CODA
Lorna Francis whose native language is ASL and who will be the
commencement speaker on May 9. According to the article, the
commencement will also be televised.
ASL student to speak at commencement May 9, 2009
By: Michelle Franco
Posted: 4/17/09
Lorna Francis is the first American Sign Language student to be
chosen as a speaker for this college’s commencement.
She will be speaking on behalf of the graduating class at this year’s
commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. May 9 in Municipal Auditorium, One
Auditorium Circle.
A total of 642 students are expected to walk the stage at the
ceremony, Gail Jonas, associate director of admissions, said
Wednesday.
The auditorium seats 4,200, and graduates have been issued five
tickets for family and friends.
“It makes me feel honored and excited to do it,” Francis said in an
interview April 6. “I am always the quiet person. This is out of the
ordinary for me.”
“I could have transferred a long time ago,” Francis said, “but I
wanted to complete the (ASL) program here.
“My mom is deaf and my dad is hard of hearing. I have to be a role
model to show that any student can do it.”
She explains how it was easier to use sign language as a child
because that’s what was used at home.
“It was hard for me to mainstream into the hearing world,” she said.
Francis will transfer to Texas A&M University-Kingsville System
Center-San Antonio in the fall of 2010 and hopes to find a career in
interpreting for courts.
Jeff Hunt, theater and speech communication chair and in charge of
choosing the graduation speaker, was introduced to Francis during the
ASL talent show Feb. 21, where she signed “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige
in ASL.
“She had a great performance,” Hunt said. “I thought she might be a
great speaker.”
Hunt usually chooses the speaker in December and January, then
coaches the speaker until the day of graduation.
“It’s not really about finding a good speaker,” the expert said. “I
look for diversity.”
“It’s a real honor,” Hunt said. “They have a message they want to
share and they speak before thousands of audience members. It looks
good on your résumé.”
Hunt said he tries to meet with the speaker seven to 10 times and
will work on writing the speech, figuring out a theme and, once it is
written, work on delivering the speech.
The graduation speaker is an important part of graduation, Hunt said.
“You have one student speak on behalf of the graduating class,” he
said. “They are only a small representation of the obstacles and
success stories that all the graduates share at SAC.”
“The graduation speaker’s duty is to charge their peers with don’t
rest, don’t stop. Continue on with education or with the dream job in
the work force and continue to make new goals,'” Hunt said.
The importance of the graduation speaker from the faculty and
administration’s point of view, Hunt said, is “to hear from the
graduation speaker that we are doing our job.”
Officials also will be announcing this years’ Outstanding Former
Student award to Martha Salas, a graduate from the first nursing class
from the college in 1969.
“There is a lot of symbolism that she was one of the first graduates
and this year they are opening the new nursing facility,” said
distance education Director Helen Torres, who nominated Salas for the
award.
Salas is currently a civilian employee as the director for the Air
Force Worldwide Family Advocacy Program.
Salas oversees 77 Air Force installations that develop, implement,
intervene and treat family violence with a spending budget of $33
million per year, Julie Cooper, public information officer for the
college, said Wednesday.
Salas graduated with an associate degree in nursing from the college
and later received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the
University of the Incarnate Word and a Master’s of Business
Administration and health care management from Our Lady of the Lake
University.
“That to me was so striking,” Torres said. “She is really a leader.”
To be nominated for the award, individuals must have attended the
college and have been nominated by a faculty or staff member from the
college.
Graduation is not required.
The commencement ceremony will be televised from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
through Time Warner Cable on Channel 98.