U.S. Congressman to give commencement
Erin Keilah Chin
Issue date: 5/16/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
U.S. Congressman and San Jose State University alumnus Mike Honda will be speaking at SJSU's 149th commencement ceremony on May 27.
Honda received his bachelor's degrees in biological sciences and Spanish from SJSU in 1968, where he also earned his master's degree in education in 1974.
According to his Web site, he was a science teacher and a principal at two public elementary schools, and he also conducted educational research at Stanford University before he began his career in politics.
Terry Christensen, a political science professor, said Honda has always been involved with the university and has helped SJSU students.
"I think Mike's a perfect speaker," Christensen said. "He's an alum who has stayed connected to SJSU all through his career. It's really appropriate that he is our speaker."
SJSU alumni work for Honda in Washington, D.C., and Honda also takes on interns who are SJSU students, according to Christensen.
Honda, D-San Jose, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000.
While he is here, Honda will also be visiting with SJSU nanotechnology students and faculty members on May 30.
Christensen said students should be able to relate to Honda.
"He really should be a role model for our students," Christensen said, "in a sense that he's the first generation (of his family) to go to college. He's got a powerful story."
Jenna Mabalatan, a senior majoring in communications, said she thinks the featured speaker at graduation should give advice for the future.
"I would want a speaker that would motivate me to apply my education in the real world, kind of give advice to help prepare myself," Mabalatan said.
Pat Harris, an SJSU media relations officer, said speakers for graduation are chosen because they are good role models for students.
"Mike, in that respect, is a good choice," Harris said. "I think the students may be able to identify with him. He did attend SJSU. He's been through many of the same places that our students have been through and (has) many of the same aspirations. Hopefully students will be able to identify with him and take more than their diploma away with them on (that) Saturday."
Honda received his bachelor's degrees in biological sciences and Spanish from SJSU in 1968, where he also earned his master's degree in education in 1974.
According to his Web site, he was a science teacher and a principal at two public elementary schools, and he also conducted educational research at Stanford University before he began his career in politics.
Terry Christensen, a political science professor, said Honda has always been involved with the university and has helped SJSU students.
"I think Mike's a perfect speaker," Christensen said. "He's an alum who has stayed connected to SJSU all through his career. It's really appropriate that he is our speaker."
SJSU alumni work for Honda in Washington, D.C., and Honda also takes on interns who are SJSU students, according to Christensen.
Honda, D-San Jose, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000.
While he is here, Honda will also be visiting with SJSU nanotechnology students and faculty members on May 30.
Christensen said students should be able to relate to Honda.
"He really should be a role model for our students," Christensen said, "in a sense that he's the first generation (of his family) to go to college. He's got a powerful story."
Jenna Mabalatan, a senior majoring in communications, said she thinks the featured speaker at graduation should give advice for the future.
"I would want a speaker that would motivate me to apply my education in the real world, kind of give advice to help prepare myself," Mabalatan said.
Pat Harris, an SJSU media relations officer, said speakers for graduation are chosen because they are good role models for students.
"Mike, in that respect, is a good choice," Harris said. "I think the students may be able to identify with him. He did attend SJSU. He's been through many of the same places that our students have been through and (has) many of the same aspirations. Hopefully students will be able to identify with him and take more than their diploma away with them on (that) Saturday."
Be the first to comment on this story