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Robert M. La Follette
School of Public Affairs
1225 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Telephone: 608.262.3581
Fax: 608.265.3233

Last updated:
December 9, 2011

La Follette School News: Graduation 2008

Fifty-three students, their families and their friends joined faculty and staff in the Assembly Chamber in the Wisconsin Capitol for speeches and applause. They then gathered at the nearby Madison Club for a reception. Speakers included Director Barbara Wolfe, Associate Director Menzie Chinn, graduate Ryan Baumtrog, faculty member Dennis Dresang and Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton. Andrea Hayes-Birchler and Emily Engel (a member of the class of 2009) won the Penniman Prize. Hayes-Birchler, Sam Austin, Joe Fontaine and David Stepien won Director's Achievement Awards.

Four women in caps and gowns. Photo taken by Carol Warden May 17, 2008.

Taa-daa! We've graduated: Andria Hayes-Birchler, Jennie Mauer, Carrie Traud and Carissa DeCramer outside the capitol.

La Follette School news story

Men in black: Grant Sim, Eliot Elzinga, Ben Jones, Nick Bubb, Adam Lee and Kavan Kucko line up outside the Capitol.

Photo by Carol Warden taken May 17, 2008.

Alexis MacDonald, left, is going to work for the Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C., while Katie Davis will join the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau.

graduating class, professors in caps and gowns on capitol steps

The class of 2008 on the steps of the Capitol.

Master of International Public Affairs degree recipients Patti Reis and Sam Austin.

The graduates queue up in the Assembly Parlor before proceeding into the chambers.

Graduates standing in Assembly chamber at their seats. Photo by Carol Warden taken May 17, 2008.

Master of Public Affairs degree recipients Katie Davis and Barb Dearth wait for their classmates to fill the chamber.

Associate Director Menzie Chinn speaks at graduation. Photo by Carol Warden taken May 17, 2008.

Associate Director Menzie Chinn gives the Penniman Prize and the Director's Achievement Award.

Graduate Ryan Baumtrog speaks at graduation. Photo by Carol Warden taken May 17, 2008.

Ryan Baumtrog earned his master of public affairs degree.

A copy of his speech.

Professor Dennis Dresang speaks at graduation. Photo by Carol Warden taken May 17, 2008.

Faculty speaker Dennis Dresang is retiring in December 2008. He introduced keynote speaker Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton.

A copy of her speech.

Graduates listen as family, friends and faculty applaud. Photo by Carol Warden taken May 17, 2008.

Applause for the graduates resounds throughout the Assembly Chamber.

The Bobs debut. With Robert M. La Follette gazing proudly down on his protégés, members of the class of 2008 show their stuff. Above photo, back row from left: Nick Bubb, Sean Moran, Carissa DeCramer, Kavan Kucko and Adam Lee. Middle row: Mikaela DeGroot, Jennie Mauer, Corey Palmer-Rehorst. Eliot Elzinga is in front.

Photo of four women in front of Bob La Follette bust at Capitol taken by Carol Warden on May 17, 2008.

“The passing of time has only solidified Fighting Bob La Follette as an archetype that continues to govern Wisconsin’s political consciousness. He set the bar high as a public servant of uncompromised integrity, a man incapable of acting in contradiction with his convictions, a politician loath to indulge in spin.

“Now we focus our admiration on you, La Follette graduates, the next generation, our heroes-to-be, launched today into a world ready to be rebooted, still governed by too many policies designed for another age, with institutions waiting to be re-imagined for a 21st century global economy.”

— Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton

Corey Palmer-Rehorst and Katie Miskell at the reception.

One of the Public Affairs workshop groups, from left, Jocelyn Gibert, Elijah Sheehan, Kathryn Reif and Carissa DeCramer. They made recommendations to the mayor of Milwaukee and his staff about improvements for the city's Workers Compensation program.

Shayna Hetzel, left, and Katie Miskell organized graduation and the reception.

Tom Robinson and Gail Krumenauer will be organizing graduation in 2009 as part of the La Follette School Student Association's board.

From left: Justin Martin, Brad Campbell, Katie Miskell and Andria Hayes-Birchler

Two men holding win glasses. Photo by Mary Treleven taken May 17, 2008.

Yoshifumi Tokushige, left, and a friend toast the graduates.

La Follette School news story