Park Scholars stand out during NC State’s spring commencement ceremonies.

NC State held spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 14, at the RBC Center. Among the 3,900 degrees conferred were those of the Park Scholarships class of 2005. Fourteen Park seniors graduated as Valedictorian and the class had an overall GPA of 3.7.

Several Park Scholars were highlighted during the day.

Park Scholar Delivers Commencement Address

Anna Edens (2005) is no stranger to a microphone. While at NC State, the Biological Sciences major co-hosted a radio talk show on WKNC. Yet, that’s just one reason her voice has become well-known around NC State. From her role as Chief Justice to her editorials for Technician, Anna has demonstrated an ease in speaking for and to the student body. Delivering the commencement address for her class was a natural succession.

Anna will spend this summer backpacking through national parks. Next fall, she’ll attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia for a Master’s in genetic counseling.

Valedictorian, Veterinarian and… Marsupial?

Laurel Duckett Voelker (2002) received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine during the ceremony. While her achievements were many—Laurel was Valedictorian of her class and recipient of both NCVMA’s Academic Achievement Award and the W.C. Brownie Award for Investigative and Diagnostic Medicine in Ruminents—they might have been overshadowed by how she accepted her degree. Laurel crossed the stage dressed as an opossum.

The outfit earned her a mention in the News & Observer’s graduation coverage, which asked the question “Who was that marsupial?” Her husband Mark (2002) was only too happy to provide the answer (and pictures!).

Next month, Laurel and Mark will move to Fort Collins, CO, where Laurel will continue her work with the US Department of Agriculture at the Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health. Mark will continue to work as a software engineer for Cisco Systems.

Notable Graduates

Park Scholars were honored during commencement, at individual college exercises and at NC State’s Honors Baccalaureate on Thursday, May 12. These are a few of their achievements (class years are 2005, unless otherwise noted).

George J. Mitchell Scholarship

Lily Jeng
Carie Windham

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

Lily Jeng

University Honors Program

Christiana Balance
Justin Brockman
Stanley Hassinger
Lily Jeng
Kristen Melton
Jennifer Rochette
Tracy Salisbury (2004)
Jordan Schwarz
Gio Seawood
Avery Smith
Maya Thompson
Carie Windham

University Scholars Program

Sara Anderson
Billy Askey
Anna Austin
Christiana Balance
Katie Barton
Justin Brockman
Rob Campbell
Nina Chavis
Catherine Conway (2004)
Rachel Cropper
Jason DeVoe
Anna Edens
Sarah Geouge
Allison Hauser
Latonya Jefress (2004)
Lily Jeng
Matt Kain (2004)
Amber McFarland
Kristen Melton
Jessica Modeen (2004)
Kelsey Norwood
Susan Oliver
Megan Ollivant (2004)
Kathleen Powers
Nate Radcliff
Kerr Robinson
Jennifer Rochette
Nickole Rucker
Adam Rush
Tracy Salisbury (2004)
Jorden Schwarz
Gio Seawood
Priya Sivansen
Avery Smith
Dana Stanley
Mark Stuenkel
Micah Sullivan
Ashley Tharrington (2006)
Maya Thompson
Lao Yang

Valedictorians

Billy Askey
Anna Austin
Bryce Ball
Justin Brockman
Catherine Conway (2004)
Stanley Hassinger
Lily Jeng
Kristen Melton
Kerr Robinson
Jennifer Rochette
Nickole Rucker
Adam Rush
Mark Stuenkel
Laurel Voelker (2002)
Anthony Wong
Lao Yang

Above (l-r): Anna Edens delivers the student commencement address; Laurel Voelker displays her doctorate degree and her opossum suit; Laurel playing possum during commencement.