Each fall and spring, hundreds of graduating seniors cross the Commencement stage at Kolf Sports Center. However, only a select few students receive the opportunity to stand in front of their peers, faculty and staff, friends, family and other guests and speak about the professional and personal growth, the good times and the countless opportunities they have experienced at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

All graduating students can apply to be the commencement speaker, which consists of a selection process including giving their speech in front of the University’s Graduation Awards Committee.

The committee then chooses a few finalists from the potential applicants, one of whom will speak at the commencement ceremony.

Marian Rothkegel will be the featured student speaker at the Midyear Commencement Ceremony held Saturday, Dec. 17.

Learn more, hear the speeches:

• To learn more about Rothkegel and the two other student speaker finalists, as well as listen to audio files of each finalist reading his and her speech, visit: http://www.uwosh.edu/commencement/final-words-fall-2011