TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Keena Miller
Phone: 512-462-5328, cell: 512-658-4444
Email: [email protected]
FOR RELEASE JUNE 5, 2014
TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF’S CLASS OF 2014 COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES TODAY
Austin, Texas – June 5, 2014 Today at 2:00 p.m., Lindsay Darnall – national leader among the nation’s Deaf community, and role model chosen by the high school seniors themselves – delivers the commencement address to the graduating Class of 2014 at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in the R.L. Davis Auditorium, at the school’s South Austin campus – 1102 South Congress Avenue.
Joining Darnall to impart words of wisdom and honor the 2014 graduating class, TSD welcomes lawmakers: Texas Senator, Judith Zaffirini, Texas State Representative, Eddie Rodriguez, and staffers from the offices of Texas Representative, Helen Giddings, and United States Congressman, Steve Stockman.
Stockman co-authored the United States House Bill H.R.4040, known as the Alice Cogswell and Ann Sullivan Macy Act – a comprehensive bill that is reforming education for all deaf and hard of hearing and blind and visually impaired students.
Stockman will be honored during TSD’s commencement ceremony, and presented with the National Champion Award by representatives from the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools & Programs for the Deaf and the National Association for the Deaf.
TSD is also very excited to welcome commencement speaker, Linsay Darnall. Darnall is principal and founder of Darnall Consulting – a Nebraska firm working with agencies and entities in education and advocacy for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. A Nebraska native born to Deaf parents, Darnall attended Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. where he studied government, before settling back in Nebraska to launch his advocacy and community work.
With emotions high as they remembered the positive impression Darnall made when they attended his presentation earlier in the year, TSD seniors petitioned school leaders to invite Darnall to be the school’s 2014 graduation speaker.
Impressed with the students’ proposal, TSD superintendent, Claire Bugen, proudly recalls the meeting she was summoned to attend by the soon-to-be graduates.
“Our young leaders, Bugen says, were very positively impacted and inspired by Darnall’s strong advocacy within the Deaf community. They organized, banded together and came forward to request that this honor be extended to Darnall.”
Bugen was indeed swayed by the students’ enthusiasm.
“And fortunately, he accepted our invitation,” she adds.
TSD’s 2014 graduates, undergrads, and school leaders alike, eagerly anticipate Darnall’s message to the 56 graduating seniors, as well as highlights that will be shown from the senior year, which have been captured on video by the school’s Blaze Studio video technology students.
Congratulations to TSD’s Class of 2014.
WHAT: Texas School for the Deaf’s (TSD) 2014 Commencement Exercises
WHEN:
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Senior/Parent Luncheon 11:00 am
Commencement 2:00 pm
WHERE:
R. L. Davis Auditorium
Texas School for the Deaf
1102 South Congress
Austin, Texas 78704
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ABOUT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF (TSD)
The Texas School for the Deaf is the oldest continuously operating public school in Texas. Educating deaf and hard of hearing students of Texas since 1856, the campus also provides outreach and educational resources for students, their families and professionals in the field throughout the state of Texas. With educational excellence and a strong belief in a culture and community at TSD, students form a unique identity based on their individual strengths and talents. TSD is an environment where students learn, grow, and belong. For more information about the Texas School for the Deaf, visit http://www.tsd.state.tx.us/.
CONTACT:
Keena Miller
[email protected]
Texas School for the Deaf
512-462-5328
c 512-658-4444