Senior Sarah Schmitcke’s mission is to ignite a spark in her fellow NDSU graduates. She has been selected the undergraduate commencement speaker at the ceremony set for Saturday, May 15, at 10 a.m. in the Fargodome.
“The theme for my speech is about fire,” explained Schmitcke, who is majoring in business administration and management. “I’ll tell everyone to gather everything we’ve been given, and even though we are graduating in hard times, we can overcome that. I’ll tell my classmates to be passionate, to ignite themselves – that’s my main message.”
A native of Emmons County in south-central North Dakota, Schmitcke’s Hazelton High School class had 14 students, and she is the first member of her immediate family to graduate from college. She is the daughter of Alvin Schmitcke and Alice Grinsteinner of Hazelton and Marcella and Don Lammert of Moffit.
“Being selected to represent my classmates is amazing. It makes me think, why me? I was very, very surprised,” said Schmitcke, who is known for her determination to succeed. “I really see myself as the average student. Yes, I have good grades and I’m motivated, but I’m not the Homecoming queen. My college career has been about getting a good education and building relationships.”
Active on the NDSU campus, Schmitcke has participated in Beta Gamma Sigma honor society, the Society for Human Resource Management, Accounting Club and National Society for Collegiate Scholars. She also was chosen to represent NDSU at the annual Beta Gamma Sigma National Leadership Forum in Tampa, Fla.
In addition, Schmitcke was a member of the University Chorus and Concert Choir, and is vice present of the NDSU Hip Hop Dance Team. She also has volunteered at the NDSU Dance Marathon, Relay for Life and Nokomis Child Care Center.
“My experience here has been great. I always knew NDSU was the one for me. I didn’t even tour the campus before I came here. I wanted the best,” she said. “The College of Business has some really good instructors, and I have so much respect for them.”
Schmitcke was nominated by several of her instructors to be commencement undergraduate speaker.
“Sarah excels academically and is a pleasure to have in the classroom,” wrote Charles Stevens, associate professor of human resource management, in a letter of nomination. “She is pleasant, articulate and is always clearly engaged with the class material.”
Rodney Traub, associate professor of operations, wrote, “It is rare to see her without a smile. She is sociable and she clearly gets along well with her student colleagues. She has a terrific sense of humor and it comes through quickly.
“Sarah is very much the type of student that we are proud of at NDSU,” Traub wrote.
In addition to her coursework and student activities, Schmitcke has worked 20 hours per week at J.C. Penney Co. in Fargo for the past four years. “Work is important to me, and experience is important when we graduate,” she explained. “Success is important to me. I want to prove myself and be the best I can be.”
Schmitcke's long-term goals are to work in human resources or perhaps own a business. “I care about people, and I want my job to help people,” she said. “For my career goals, I guess I will listen to myself and see where that leads me.”