This year's July commencement will break tradition by cutting down on speech time to showcase a video.
The video presentation "Oh the Places You Can Go with a Ball State Degree" is named after a Dr. Seuss book, narrator Wayne Zage said.
"The video is based on the different paths that graduates can take with a degree from Ball State," Zage said.
Zage has been with Ball State for 27 years and was recognized as the 2002-2003 Outstanding Faculty Member based on his record of teaching, research and service.
This is the second time in Ball State history an Outstanding Faculty Member recipient has given the commencement address, Zage said. The address is usually given by President Blaine Brownell.
"This is a multi-media presentation with seven video clips," Zage said.
Zage orchestrated the video presentation with telecommunications professor John Dailey and Zage's wife, Dolores Zage, also a computer science professor. The video took three months to produce.
"We chose to produce a video because we wanted to have students say something, and not all of them that we chose were able to be there," Zage said. "This was the only way that we could capture them."
One graduate that will be featured in the video is William Feldhues who will graduate with a degree in computer sciences.
Feldhues received his master's degree in anthropology from Ball State before deciding to come back for a second bachelor's degree.
"Your preparation here at Ball State does not direct you into one career path," Feldhues said. "Keep yourself open; there are many paths you can take."
Tamara Bowie describes in the video how her experience at Ball State has prepared her for a professional basketball career in Europe, while Andy Beckman talks about how important his classes were in landing a guest role on the television talk show "Live with Regis and Kelly."
Other graduates featured will be Richard Turvey, graduating with a degree in general studies with minors in computer science and military science; Jennifer Many, elementary education; Sophie Moagi-Gulubane, counseling psychology; and Jason Brotherton, computer science.
The video presentation will be shown on a large screen above the commencement stage in Worthen Arena on Saturday.
"This is not just a home video but an event," Zage said.
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