Seniors will vote Wednesday for the student who will speak at graduation.

The pool of senior speaker candidates has been narrowed down to 10 students who have met academic standards and have senior standing, according to Nicole Garland, a senior in the College of Business Administration and Marquette Student Government communications vice president.

The Senior Speaker Committee, comprised of senior representatives from each academic college, a junior representative and various professors, have chosen the following seniors as candidates to be the senior speaker: Christian Eichenlaub, Thomas Freesmeier, Elizabeth Hadley, Ian Hoch, Emily Huschen, Chris Kerzich, Mary McCarthy, Megan McCarthy, Megan Schmitt and Ashley Tremain, said Emily Rostkowski, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and executive vice president of MUSG.

Eichenlaub said he is "honored, surprised and humbled" by his nomination. Eichenlaub's activities have included Orientation Staff and University Ministry, as well as being a chairman for Easter Seals. If chosen, he would focus his speech on how Marquette students have a opportunity to be voices in a culture that is not as entitled as Marquette students.

Freesmeier said he is "really excited and honored to be nominated" for senior speaker. He is a MAP student coordinator, University Ministry retreat leader and a tour guide. If chosen, Freesmeier said he would speak about how students are called to service by society and by God.

Hadley is "very excited, shocked and honored" to have been chosen as a finalist. Some of her activities include being a desk receptionist at McCormick Hall, the Entrepreneur Club and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. If chosen, the main focus of her speech would be embracing the differences of others.

Hoch said being chosen as a candidate for senior speaker is a "fantastic opportunity." Some of his activities have included being a resident assistant and the treasurer of Sigma Tau Delta, Marquette's English Honors Society. His speech would be about how students are not just paying for a piece of paper, but gaining experience over the course of a college career.

Huschen's nomination "came as a complete surprise." Huschen, who is president of the MU Band and works in the Study Abroad and International Admissions offices, said she would speak about the need to fulfill Marquette's "cura personalis" motto.

Kerzich was "humbled and really excited" when he was notified of his nomination. He is an RA and has been involved in University Ministry as a retreat leader and the freshman STAR program. If selected, he would want his speech to represent what the senior class wanted.

Mary McCarthy said: "It's a big honor to be nominated … I would love to give the graduation speech." Her activities include Marquette Tribune advertising, O-Staff, MUSG and the Entrepreneurs Club. If chosen, her speech would be about the influence of different people on a student's college career.

Megan McCarthy said she was really excited about being nominated for senior speaker and has "wanted to do this since grade school." She recently played the part of Sarah in "The Book of Job" at the Helfaer Theatre and works in management at the AMU. If chosen, McCarthy said her speech would concentrate not on what lies ahead of the graduating class, but on how far they have already come.

Tremain has been involved in Pi Beta Phi and Amnesty International and is president of Order of Omega, a Greek academic honor society.

"It is a big honor to be considered and nominated as a finalist," she said. If chosen, she plans to speak on how it is a privilege to be a Marquette student and the responsibility that comes with it.

Schmitt could not be reached for comment. According to the MUSG Web site, her activities include peer health education, liturgical choir, the Service Learning Teaching Volunteer Project and Global Village.

Seniors will be able to vote for their top three picks for speaker during Wednesday's MUSG elections. The nominees will then be presented to the Senior Speaker Committee to choose a speaker.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 15 2005.