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Chris Rogers (Photo by Shawn McAfee)

Chris Rogers, a 28-year-old geology major from Berlin, plans to talk about perseverance and appreciation at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s spring 2011 commencement ceremony May 14.

“As students, we each have had to persevere through obstacles and typically we as humans like to take credit by ourselves, but the reality is there are many people out there who have helped us get to this point in our lives,” Rogers said. “This is where the appreciation comes into play. I am highlighting the team of individuals that have inspired me to persevere.”

Rogers will serve as the graduating class speaker at the 9 a.m. ceremony for the College of Letters and Science, where he will encourage his fellow graduates to take chances in life.

“It’s important that we don’t let our anxiety get the best of us,” Rogers said. “The best thing we can do is to conduct our research, find out what we want and pursue it.”

Rogers was a member of the UW Oshkosh Geology Club and was also a finalist in the 2009 Speech Communication Festival. After graduation, he plans to travel and eventually attend flight school in hopes of becoming a commercial pilot.

Ann Duginske (Photo by Shawn McAfee)

Ann Duginske, a marketing major and journalism minor from Green Bay, says the best advice to incoming college freshmen is that everything is important.

“Every moment, every lecture, every assignment, every event you attend, every line you read in one of your textbooks in the coming years, remember, ‘this is important,’” Duginske said. “People lose their way in college and in life when they forget the purpose behind what they are doing.”

Duginske was chosen to speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony for the College of Business, College of Education and Human Services and College of Nursing. She plans to focus her speech around the idea of encouraging students and attendees to appreciate the moment and recognize the support, the work and the obstacles that went into getting there.

“Appreciate where you are and what you have gotten,” Duginske said. “You have an education, something that has changed your life and has given you understanding. Even if you do not have a job or something lined up right now, you have your education, you have your goals, and those are enough for you to appreciate right now and to move you forward.”

Duginske was a member of the Reeve Advisory Council, the Oshkosh Student Association (OSA) and the Student Allocations Controller from 2009-2010 for the College Democrats. She also received the Tom Segnitz Leadership Award for outstanding leadership in OSA and was given the College of Business Alumni Association Scholarship for the spring 2011 semester.

After graduation Duginske has accepted a job as marketing research and development project manager at New North, Inc.

“I am very excited to move into this role,” Duginske said. “This position offers me huge opportunity to grow and challenge myself.”

Read more about spring 2011 commencement: