Lake Superior College will recognize this year’s graduating class at commencement exercises at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) on Monday, May 14. More than 700 degrees, diplomas, and certificates will be awarded to the class of 2018.
A pinning ceremony for graduates of the LSC Nursing Program will be held at 11 a.m. in the Harborside Ballroom. Family and friends are invited to attend.
Commencement is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in the DECC Symphony Hall.
Commencement speakers include Minnesota State Trustee Cheryl Tefer who represents the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Student Senate President-elect Keeley Zirkler and City of Duluth Human Rights Officer Carl Crawford.
Minnesota State Trustee Cheryl Tefer, of Andover, is a former professor at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, where she taught nursing for 26 years. She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Iowa, her master of science degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota, and did post-graduate work at the University of Minnesota. Tefer served on a strategic planning committee for Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College, as well as the academic affairs and standards council at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. She was named Minnesota State Board of Trustees educator of the year in 2014.
Student Senate President Keeley Zirkler is graduating with her Associate of Arts degree. Earning academic high honors with a GPA of 3.75 or higher, she is a member of Lake Superior College’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society and serves as vice president of research. Zirkler was recognized with a Student Honors Award as Club Officer of the Year for starting the Meditation Club and leading weekly sessions on campus. She is planning a career in neuroscience and will take additional prerequisite classes at LSC this fall, while serving as Student Senate President, before she transfers to the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities.
City of Duluth Human Rights Officer Carl Crawford was selected by Mayor Emily Larson as Duluth’s Human Rights Officer in July 2016 after serving as Lake Superior College’s Intercultural Center Coordinator since 2007. As the Human Rights Officer, Crawford is charged with enforcing city and state human rights laws and works to ensure city services are accessible to all people without discrimination. In addition, the Human Rights Officer also serves as the Equal Opportunity Representative for the City of Duluth and the ADA Coordinator, responsible for enforcement of policies against discrimination and harassment, diversifying the workforce and promoting accessibility for all residents.
Crawford brings a deep history of community involvement and human rights work to the position, including helping to draft Duluth’s original Human Rights Ordinance, serving as past chair of the Human Rights Commission and as a founding board member of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial.
In addition, Crawford has served on numerous boards of directors, including Community Action Duluth, Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, Woodland Hills, Men as Peacemakers, the Ordean Foundation, SOAR, NAACP, and American Cancer Society. He currently serves on the board for the Lake Superior College Foundation. He is the recipient of the 2012 MLK Jr. Drum Major for Peace Award, is active with the Family Freedom School of Duluth and is a longtime youth and high school basketball coach.
