| Brad Woznicki of Perrysburg speaking during BGSU graduation. (Photos: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune) |
Brad Woznicki of Perrysburg said he chose to attend Bowling Green State University for the hands-on
experience it offered.
He capitalized on these hands-on experiences during his undergraduate career at BGSU and served as
general manager of WBGU-FM, a sideline reporter for BGSU basketball, sports anchor with BG24 News,
president of the TCOM Student Association, and a sports photographer for the BG News. He has also landed
internships with the Miami Heat broadcasting department and KSFY Action News in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota.
Woznicki, a telecommunications major, served as commencement speaker Saturday morning for graduates of
the College of Arts and Sciences at the Stroh Center.
"We have been given the tools and experience necessary to be successful in our future careers,"
Woznicki said.
He challenged the graduates to "pull out all the stops" to achieve their goals.
Pulling out all the stops is something Woznicki has learned to do.
After he attended a sports media talk by Jason Jackson, a BGSU alumnus and courtside reporter for the
NBA’s Miami Heat, he approached Jackson afterward and asked how he could secure an internship with the
team.
Five months later, after communicating with Jackson and the executive director of the Heat’s broadcasting
department, Woznicki landed himself a summer internship with the team.
| Julia Usitalo waves during commencement ceremonies, Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Usitalo graduated with a double major in psychology and women’s gender and sexuality studies. |
"For four years, I thought about this day and how it would feel to walk across this stage,"
Woznicki told the graduates.
But up until about a month ago, Woznicki admitted, he never expected to be on the stage as commencement
speaker.
He remembered getting an e-mail from his adviser, Bob Kline, who kept the invitation to serve as
commencement speaker somewhat under wraps.
"Brad, swing by my office when you have five minutes … something pretty cool," Kline wrote in
the e-mail.
Woznicki later stopped by his office. When he walked in, Kline was holding a sign with "Yes"
written in big, bold letters and asked Woznicki to read the sign.
He did.
"Great, so that means yes," Kline said.
Over the course of BGSU’s 273rd graduation, which included three ceremonies, 1,898 diplomas were awarded
to students, including 350 master’s degrees and 28 doctoral degrees.
Of the May graduating class, 435 students were graduating with Latin honors for having high grade-point
averages.
"It is my personal hope you will never stop learning and will always feel an attachment to
BGSU," said BGSU President Dr. Mary Ellen Mazey addressing the graduates.
