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Gamma Alpha gives Commencement Speech at 2008 Graduation Ceremony
Marissa Hermann, a member of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi (pledge class of Fall 2004), was recently selected to give the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony of George Masson University’s Class of 2008. She competed against ten others who had qualifying speeches in front of various members of GMU, including the Vice President of University Life and the Director of University Relations.
Marissa is originally from Richmond, Virginia. While at Mason, she served as an Orientation Leader and Orientation Assistant for the Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services and sat on the Council of Student Organization Umbrellas (COSU) as the 2005-2006 Special Interest Umbrella Leader. She also dedicated many hours to Gamma Alpha, serving as the Vice President of Education and Historian, as well as contributing to philanthropic activities, intramural sports, and Greek Life events. In the spring of 2007, she spent an exciting semester abroad at the University of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia through the Center for Global Education’s Direct Exchange Program. She spent much of the past year as a grassroots marketing intern for the LUNAbar division of Clif Bar.
Marissa said that while standing on the stage at the ceremony, she was nervous, thinking, "Oh my God, what did I get myself into!?", but the speech was perfectly delivered:
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"As we sit here today on the edge of what looks like the rest of our lives-our Patriot experience is the bulk of our yesterday. The learning from it has been immense. Here, at a place where the options are as diverse as the people, we have had the rare opportunity to tap into those parts of ourselves that make us truly unique. . . Class of 2008, we leave behind a legacy so distinct; it shall never escape us nor our University. Collectively, we are trailblazers of the Mason tradition. In our willingness to embrace the traditions that were, we have unknowingly transformed the traditions that are. . . So, today as we depart, as George Mason University’s distinguished class of 20080, know that our legacy is profound. Be certain that it shall linger, as we continue in its path." |
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Marissa graduated with a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She is currently serving as a 2008 Teach for America Corps member in Southern Louisiana teaching secondary special education. She writes of her alumna experience, "I truly attribute so much of my success to my collegiate AOII experience, and am still feeling connected to the organization in my move here to Baton Rouge where I will be attending my very first Baton Rouge Alumnae Chapter dinner next Thursday! Moving down here to Louisiana where I have no family or friend connections, it is so wonderful to know I have an Alumnae Chapter ready to open their arms to me!" |
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