Student Commencement Speaker - May 2012

Commencement Address delivered by Robin Feuerman 

Robin Feuerman with NMU President, David Haynes
and L. Garnet Lewis, NMU Board of Trustees Chair

Robin Feuerman of Longwood, Florida was chosen as the Northern Michigan University student commencement speaker for the Saturday, May 4 graduation ceremony. She received a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in human behavior.

Feuerman enrolled at NMU to join the weightlifting team at the U.S. Olympic Education Center—the only residential facility located on a college campus that allows athletes to train for elite international competition while pursuing a degree.

“Weightlifting brought me here, but I stayed because of NMU,” she said. “I absolutely love this university and community. I’ve grown so much here—not just through my sport and the incredible coach who helped me develop as a person as well as an athlete—but through other opportunities. I’ve been active in campus housing and Women for Women (a student organization). I’ve gained so much surrounding myself with strong, independent women and with people who want to make a difference in their communities.”

“I like clear endings to things and really enjoy writing. Being able to write something to encompass my awesome experience at Northern was appealing and I wanted to write a speech that as many students as possible would connect to.”