Speaker chosen for 2006 Commencement

By Kaile Schreiner
Courier Staff

NBC’s Tel Aviv bureau chief and correspondent, Martin Fletcher, has been chosen to present Monmouth College’s 2006 commencement address on May 14.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist will speak to a crowd of 220 graduating seniors and their families and friends at the Wallace Hall Plaza.

Many times during Fletcher’s career he has been first to report on important historic events.

Recently, he reported on the political emergence of the radical Islamic Hamas.

Fletcher will also be presented with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree at the ceremony.

According to Monmouth College president Mauri Ditzler, each year Monmouth College presents an honorary degree to a speaker who they truly believe expresses good qualities of being a role model to the students.

“Martin Fletcher exhibits characteristics that we prize in liberal arts graduates. He reports on difficult issues with clarity, civility and courage,” he said.

Fletcher, originally from London, graduated from the University of Bradford in Yorkshire, and has served in his current position since 1990.

Senior Sean Fitzgerald, a communication and theater arts major, said he is excited to hear of Fletcher’s career experiences, “especially about pursuing your dreams and career goals through the media.”

Senior public relations major Anthony Welty said, “I’m encouraged to see how he will bring his experiences to the speech because he has obviously experienced many conflicts in his lifetime.”

Meanwhile, senior biology major Eliza Hudnall said of Fletcher, “He has been through many conflicts we have never experienced before.”

Joseph Angotti, lecturer in the communication and theater arts department, played a significant role in getting Fletcher to speak at commencement.

“President Ditzler had mentioned to me that he wanted someone who could express civil discourse,” Angotti said.

Before his time here at Monmouth, Angotti was an executive producer for NBC Nightly News and knew Fletcher very well.

“When we pick our speakers, these are the types of people we value most and want our students to be like,” said Ditzler.

“I thought Martin Fletcher would be interesting for students and faculty to be exposed to--someone who has had first-hand experience and reported uncivil discourse and civil discourse in areas where there is war,” said Angotti.