McCarthy, Atagi selected as student commencement speakers

Jack McCarthy and Natsuki Atagi are different in many ways. Each of them pursued a unique college experience at IU during the past four years. However, what relates one to the other is that both of them are graduating in May. But, most importantly, they will be the first-ever student speakers at the undergraduate commencement.

Since IU Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson announced that there would be student commencement speakers this year, an appointed selection committee has been busy reviewing applications, interviewing candidates and recommending the finalists to her.

After Hanson reviewed all the recommended finalists, the selected speakers were notified.

“Provost Hanson called me about two weeks ago and told me that I was selected as the speaker of the student commencement,” said McCarthy, the current vice president of IU Student Association. “I was really exited about it.”

McCarthy and Atagi will be speaking to more than 17,000 graduates, faculty, alumni, friends and family members on May 8 at Assembly Hall.

McCarthy said he heard the Office of the Provost was looking for student speakers at this year’s undergraduate commencement from his peers, including IUSA President and junior Peter Servaas. Some University administrators McCarthy has worked with nominated him and encouraged him to go for it.

“At IU, I was involved in a lot of activities and campus organizations,” he said. “They all helped me a lot in terms of meeting different people and getting different
experience.”

Majoring in economic consulting and public policy analysis, McCarthy also had minors in French, Italian and economics. His other extracurricular activities involve Kelley Student Government, Student Business Ambassadors, Beta Theta Pi and the Trockman Microfinance Initiative, through which he built a reputation in leadership.
McCarthy hesitated to pick one as his best experience at IU.

“It’s hard,” he said. “By getting involved in so many different things at IU, it’s really hard for me to put one thing over another.”

He will speak during the morning ceremony.

Atagi, who will speak at the afternoon ceremony, has a different story to tell.

Coming from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., to IU four years ago, Atagi said she decided to apply to be a student commencement speaker when she was notified that she had been nominated.

“I was honored to have been nominated for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I applied for the position,” Atagi said. “In addition, I thought that this would be a wonderful and memorable way to end my undergraduate career.”

Majoring in both psychology and gender studies, Atagi said she knew graduation was an exciting but scary turning point for a lot of students. She wanted to have the opportunity to remind her fellow classmates that IU has provided them with all the tools necessary to face even the most difficult aspects of the future.

Atagi said she wanted to give her classmates a chance to reflect on their college years.

“I was scared of public speaking when I first came to IU four years ago,” she said. “Because of numerous public speaking and presentation opportunities that I have had during my undergraduate career, I have successfully overcome stage fright and actually really enjoy public speaking now.”

Atagi sees being the student commencement speaker as just another challenge.
Atagi will talk about her involvement with students groups such as the Hutton Honors College, and her research in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.

Greg Buse, project specialist for the Office of the Provost, said the selection committee faced a difficult decision when picking two out of more than 20 highly-qualified applicants.

“All were students who have excelled in the classroom and who have been active participants or leaders in student organizations,” Buse said.

Buse said during interviews, both McCarthy and Atagi spoke eloquently about what IU meant to them.

Buse said McCarthy has demonstrated his leadership abilities many times by being elected by his peers in student government, and Atagi has done very impressive research and made meaningful contributions to IU diversity education.

“I’m confident that both of them will do a wonderful job at the commencement ceremonies,” Buse said.