“Parents, former employer reflect on Bay City Central graduate picked to speak at MSU Communication Arts and Sciences ...”

Parents, former employer reflect on Bay City Central graduate picked to speak at MSU Communication Arts and Sciences ...

Posted: 16 Feb 2011 02:32 PM PST

Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 5:20 PM

BAY CITY — Lindsay Bacigalupo has acted on stage, played in an all-girl rock band, made the cut to be on Michigan State University's dance team and headed up a national public relations case study team.

But come May, she will face a new challenge at her college gradation: Giving a speech to her peers that is not only factual, but memorable.

Bacigalupo, 21, a 2007 graduate of Bay City Central High School, has been selected as the only student who will address her classmates at the May 6 graduation ceremony for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, where close to 1,000 students are expected to graduate.

"It means so much to me to be able to address my peers and the faculty at commencement," said Bacigalupo. "I have loved every second of college and I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to end this chapter in my life this way."

Bacigalupo said her speech is about how media and technology have evolved in her lifetime, from her family bringing home its first computer to now being able to access wireless Internet on a cell phone. She is aiming to illustrate how great the advances have been but also issue a warning to her classmates.

"I've seen a lot of great things from social media. But I've also seen it take away from interpersonal communication skills," Bacigalupo said. "I want to remind students to continue to cultivate their personal relationships and continue making real memories, not just ones through a digital atmosphere — to step away from social media once in a while," she said.

Steve McCornack, an associate professor of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, said Bacigalupo's speech was unanimously chosen by student and faculty judges from a pool of 10 applicants.

"It takes a very particular person to get up in front of people to speak …" said McCornack. "I warned students up front that it basically means they won't have a commencement experience that'll be relaxed and enjoyable. It'll be kind of nerve-wracking the whole time."

McCornack said Bacigalupo's speech was easily one of his favorites.

"She referenced points of commonality and then used it to shift to the importance of relationships," he said. "The theme of her speech is really the importance of treasuring the individual moments in life."

Bacigalupo said she will be working with McCornack to edit her speech in the coming months before graduation. Once complete, she will practice speaking at The Breslin Center, where graduation is set to take place.

"Of course I'll be nervous," she said. "I was told there will be about 10,000 people. I was active in theater all through my youth and so that really helped prepare me to be in front of a group of people."

Bacigalupo will graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication and specialization in public relations.

She has already worked in her field for several companies and said that although she has had several job offers, she has not yet decided on one.

Debbi Hornak, co-owner of Pace and Partners, a Lansing-based marketing firm for which Bacigalupo worked as an intern, said she remembers the MSU senior as a "stellar co-worker."

"She juggled many things but never dropped the ball here at her job," said Hornak. "She was very impressive, very impressive, had high energy and was just a joy to be around.

"She is a go-getter."

As for Bacigalupo's family, they say they are not surprised by what she has accomplished.

"For as long as I can remember she has always identified her interests and goes after it," said Tina Bacigalupo, Lindsay's mother. "She's been very fortunate and I suspect that comes from hard work and the preparation she's had.

"She's very goal-oriented and when she first mentioned the idea of applying to become the speaker, I knew the seed was already planted in her mind."

Brian Bacigalupo said his daughter has always been a quality person.

"I think we raised an outstanding person for the community," he said. "That's for sure. Her mom and I are very proud of her."

The family, including 9-year-old brother Carter, are looking forward to the graduation ceremony.

"We'll be beaming with pride and hopefully able to videotape from beginning to end," said Tina Bacigalupo. "Because I'm sure it's something we'll never want to forget."

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011