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Dec. 17, 2009
Challenge: Find Passion In What You Do
Mark Kieslor ’09 wanted the opportunity to give the December Commencement challenge as one last way to lead the class of 2009.
As an active Student Government participant, with his most recent role as chief of Judicial Advisory Board, Kieslor said he’s been the voice of his class since his freshman year.
“I was not one to sit back and complain about things,” said Kieslor, who will receive a bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in criminology at UT’s winter graduation this Saturday. “I work to make the changes necessary.”
In the University’s 127th Commencement on Dec. 19, 388 winter bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates, plus 16 certificate recipients, will walk across the stage at the Bob Martinez Sports Center starting at 10 a.m.
Dr. Gary Luter, professor of speech and theatre, will speak at the ceremony as the recipient of the Louise Loy Hunter Award which is given for excellence in teaching and cumulative contributions in service and scholarship. Nicolas David Pazmino Mora, who is graduating with a degree in government and world affairs with a minor in international studies, will introduce Luter.
Keislor, who has served twice as the president of his fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon and was president of the Order of Omega, said the theme of his speech is for his fellow classmates to find a career that makes them excited to go to work every day.
“Why do something if you’re not passionate about it,” Kieslor said. “That’s the one thing that my professors here taught me is that you want your job to be something you’re passionate about. You don’t want to get stuck in a cubicle hating life.”
Keislor plans to attend law school in the fall and wants to pursue politics or public policy. His family is coming from New Jersey for the Saturday ceremony.
“Everyone has a different passion. I challenge all of you to find a career that embodies that passion, for then you will love the life you live,” Keislor writes in his speech. “With passion, we will not settle for mediocrity; our dreams will become our vision.”
UT Graduates by the Numbers:
As an active Student Government participant, with his most recent role as chief of Judicial Advisory Board, Kieslor said he’s been the voice of his class since his freshman year.
“I was not one to sit back and complain about things,” said Kieslor, who will receive a bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in criminology at UT’s winter graduation this Saturday. “I work to make the changes necessary.”
In the University’s 127th Commencement on Dec. 19, 388 winter bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates, plus 16 certificate recipients, will walk across the stage at the Bob Martinez Sports Center starting at 10 a.m.
Dr. Gary Luter, professor of speech and theatre, will speak at the ceremony as the recipient of the Louise Loy Hunter Award which is given for excellence in teaching and cumulative contributions in service and scholarship. Nicolas David Pazmino Mora, who is graduating with a degree in government and world affairs with a minor in international studies, will introduce Luter.
Keislor, who has served twice as the president of his fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon and was president of the Order of Omega, said the theme of his speech is for his fellow classmates to find a career that makes them excited to go to work every day.
“Why do something if you’re not passionate about it,” Kieslor said. “That’s the one thing that my professors here taught me is that you want your job to be something you’re passionate about. You don’t want to get stuck in a cubicle hating life.”
Keislor plans to attend law school in the fall and wants to pursue politics or public policy. His family is coming from New Jersey for the Saturday ceremony.
“Everyone has a different passion. I challenge all of you to find a career that embodies that passion, for then you will love the life you live,” Keislor writes in his speech. “With passion, we will not settle for mediocrity; our dreams will become our vision.”
UT Graduates by the Numbers:
- Total graduates = 388
- Total bachelor’s degree candidates = 288
- Magna cum laude (GPA 3.75 or higher, but less than 4.0) = 21
- Cum laude (GPA 3.5 or higher, but less than 3.75) = 29
- Total master’s candidates = 100
- With honors (GPA 3.9 or higher, but less than 4.0) = 4
- With highest honors (4.0) = 1
- Countries represented = 26
- % of graduates from Florida = 59%
- Top 3 most popular undergraduate majors in this class = Marketing, Management, Psychology
- MBAs Awarded = 60
- Nonprofit Management Certificates: 16
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