Peter Van Pelt to deliver Finlandia Commencement address May 3

HANCOCK -- Peter Van Pelt, executive director of the Pine Mountain Music Festival, will deliver this year’s Commencement address at Finlandia University on Sunday, May 3. Finlandia is pleased to honor Peter Van Pelt with an honorary doctoral degree in recognition of his sincere and substantive engagement in the life of the western Upper Peninsula.

Peter Van Pelt, executive director of the Pine Mountain Music Festival, will deliver this year’s Commencement address for Finlandia University graduates and will receive an honorary doctoral degree on Sunday, May 3, 2009. (Photos courtesy Finlandia University)

Commencement exercises will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2009, at the Paavo Nurmi Center, Hancock. Finlandia will award diplomas to 108 graduation candidates.

A Baccalaureate worship service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 3, at the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock. The Rev. Dr. Lee Goodwin, the director of the ELCA Northern Great Lakes Synod Sabbath Project, will deliver the sermon.

The Finlandia University Class of 2009 Valedictorian is Lauren VanderLind. She has completed a bachelor of arts in Liberal Studies: English, with concentrations in philosophy and religion. If she had to name three things she’s gained at Finlandia, Lauren says they would have to be confidence, a direction in life and a voice. Lauren graduated from Houghton High School in 2003. She lives in Hancock with her husband, Blake. Her parents, Joan and Marshall Logue, live in Houghton.

Degrees conferred to Finlandia’s Class of 2009 are: 8 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees in Elementary Education; 4 B.A.s in Liberal Studies; 1 B.A. in Liberal Studies: English; 1 B.A. in Liberal Studies: Social Science; 5 B.A.s in Human Services; 28 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degrees; 13 Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degrees; 14 Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degrees; 12 Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees in Criminal Justice; 15 A.A.S. degrees in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA); and 7 Associate of General Studies (A.G.S.) degrees.

Alumnus speaker Jan Wisniewski is a senior fiscal analyst for the Michigan House of Representatives, overseeing the fiscal budgets of the Michigan State Police and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Jan earned an associate degree in English at Suomi College in 1993 and was awarded a bachelor of science in English and a master of public administration degree by Northern Michigan University.

For additional information, please contact the office of Finlandia University Provost Jeanne Rellahan at 906-487-7512.