By Bruce Garlinghouse
Senior Katie Young didn't know what to think when she received an urgent e-mail from the Provost, Br. Donald Strabrowski, C.S.C., asking her to call his office immediately to schedule an appointment. When she followed his directions and scheduled an appointment, she was relieved when the secretary said, "Oh, and congratulations, Katie."
In the meeting with Stabrowski, Katie found out that she had been selected class valedictorian and her notification letter had been lost in the mail.
"Br. Donald thought I was being coy and cheeky, but I really just had no idea," Young said.
Now that she does know, she said she's honored to be selected.
"It is a huge honor. I have put in a lot of work," Young said. "I don't really sleep."
She has a 4.0 GPA, is double majoring in English and Spanish, has studied abroad twice, sang in the school choir all four years and is the president of the English Society.
However, Young said she hopes people see her as more than just a super-student.
"I hope when people see me around campus they think, hey you can be smart and have cute shoes too," Young said.
Young recognizes that she isn't the only person instrumental to her success.
"My professors have been so supportive. Without them I wouldn't have been able to do it," Young said.
Young notes how close she is to her professors. She said those relationships are a reflection of the quality of the University of Portland.
"It was always a pleasure to be working with Katie. Especially talking to her, she had a way with dialogue not only in person but in her papers as well," said Spanish professor and International Languages and Cultures Department Chair Kathleen Regan.
Regan had Young in her Spanish literature and film class her junior year. She said she is not surprised that Young was selected for valedictorian.
"She was always so articulate, smart and creative. I was always impressed with her sensitivity to the text and ability to understand and analyze a text," Regan said.
Regan said Young's intelligence wasn't the only thing with which she was impressed. She said that she was a wonderful person in and out of the classroom.
"She was always staying after class to ask questions, and was always a pleasure to talk to. Its too bad she was such a good student and barely ever had to come to office hours," Regan said.
After graduation Young is getting her masters in Medieval/British Literature and she's staying here at the University of Portland.
"This is where I started and this is where I want to finish. I love the English department," Young said.
Regan has no doubt that Young's success will continue after graduation.
"Katie is well on her way to becoming leader in this world," Regan said.
However, before the caps are tossed, Young has the duty of giving the daunting valedictorian speech. Young said she's looking forward to the speech.
"I want it to be meaningful not only to me but to everyone. I'll probably throw a couple jokes in there to wake everyone up," Young said.
