Fall 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony
College of Business, Analytics & Communication
Thursday, December 17, 2020 | 2 p.m.
Order of Ceremony
• Welcome | Dr. Joshua J. Behl, Dean of the College of Business, Analytics & Communication
• Introduction | Dr. Anne E. Blackhurst, President of Minnesota State University Moorhead
• Commencement Address | Mr. Thomas Hill*, B.A. Communication Studies, Spanish, Class of 2008
• Conferring Degrees & Presentation of Diplomas | Dr. Anne E. Blackhurst & Dr. Arrick L. Jackson, Vice President of Academic Affairs
• College of Business, Analytics & Communication | Dr. Joshua J. Behl
Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science
• Student Speaker | Ms. Haley Wolfe, B.S. Accounting, Class of 2020
• Graduate Studies | Dr. Lisa I. Karch, Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning
Master of Business Administration; Master of Business Administration with Healthcare Management; Master of Science
• Closing | Alma Mater
Performed by MSUM University and Concert Choir
Produced by MSUM Student Colton Cook
*Alumni speaker bio:
Thomas Hill is originally from Bismarck, ND, and graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead in May of 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Spanish. Tom studied abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico (2006) and in the summer of 2008, he spent time volunteering in Lima, Peru, teaching English to children in developing communities. Prior to his time at United Way of Cass-Clay (UWCC) he served four years in the United States Army and Army National Guard where he was stationed in South Korea (2001) and deployed to Bosnia (2003-2004) as part of a humanitarian demining peacekeeping mission. For you math majors—that means for the time Tom was in college (2004-2008). He had a few odd jobs that included bartending, sorting junk at a thrift store, and playing in numerous terrible bar bands.
Tom has been part of the United Way of Cass-Clay team since September of 2008. He began in a program associate role and has advanced through the organization to now serve as Vice President and oversees the community impact department. In his role as the Vice President, Community Impact, he strives to understand complex community issues and to leverage United Way’s role in the community to find and invest in measurable solutions to these issues. He leads public policy, advocacy efforts, and governmental relations along with the strategy formulation and disbursement of over $4.5M in annual grants to nonprofits throughout the Cass and Clay County region.
In his free time and when the weather cooperates, he enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, camping and kayaking with his wife Linny, children Shepherd and Vera, and their stinky dog Agnes.