Lee Young-Jong

MARQUETTE — Lee Young-Jong of Seoul, South Korea, has been selected as the student speaker for Northern Michigan University (NMU)'s spring commencement on May 5 (Saturday), 2012. Kelli Polkinghorne, a music major from Marquette, will be the student soloist. She will lead the singing of the university's alma mater, "Hail Northern," and the national anthem.

Lee is a media production major with a minor in art and design. He came to NMU to expand his global experience and practical knowledge in the broadcasting field.

He worked for the Korean Broadcasting System and a cable company as an assistant producer for two years before coming to NMU. He is focused primarily on documentary and sports broadcasting production.

According to Lee, his commencement speech will mention the advantages of coming to Northern, including the personalized attention from faculty and staff. He was heavily influenced by professors Charles Ganzert and Dwight Brady of the NMU communication and performance studies department.

"NMU professors and staff are open-minded and pretty kind to international students," Lee said. "It is significant that NMU makes advances into the world and the global community by understanding humanity and diversity.

After graduating from NMU, my job is to spread the values and spirit of NMU throughout the world."

Lee said he will also emphasize that students need to have a dream, a goal and the determination it takes to achieve their objectives.

The commencement ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. in the NMU Superior Dome. It will be broadcast live on WNMU-TV and streamed live over the Internet at no charge. The link for the web broadcast can be found at www.nmu.edu/commencement.