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Marsha Evans, Director of Girl Scouts of the USA, to Deliver Commencement Address
ST. JOSEPH, Minn., May 4, 2000 - Marsha Johnson Evans, national executive director of Girl Scouts of the USA, will deliver her commencement address, "Your Best Foot Forward," at the College of Saint Benedict on Saturday, May 20, at 2 p.m. in the Clemens Field House of the Haehn Campus Center.
Evans will also be presented the College of Saint Benedict's President's Medal at the Saturday afternoon commencement ceremony. The President's Medal is given by the college to persons who have distinguished themselves through individual achievement. The award recognizes the talents, efforts and dedication required to meet new challenges. The President's Medal is bestowed on nationally known and respected individuals in recognition of outstanding achievement. The award symbolizes the college's dedication to the pursuit of excellence and the attainment of personal triumphs.
Evans, a former member of the United States Navy, retired after a 29-year career which placed her at the forefront of increasing opportunities for women in the Navy. She attained the rank of rear admiral. Most recently, she served as Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. Evans has also served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
Evans earned a bachelor's degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a master's degree in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. She also completed studies at the National War College in Washington, D.C., and The Naval War College in Newport, R.I.
A native of Springfield, Ill., Evans grew up in a military family. Her father, a navy chief petty officer, inspired her career goals. She was active in Girl Scouting from second through ninth grades, and attained the rank of Curved Bar, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting at the time.
Evans is currently a director of the May Department Stores Company and on numerous non-profit boards of directors. She lives in New York City with her husband Gerald, a retired Navy jet pilot.
Sara Olson of Eau Claire, Wis., a theology major, will give the senior statement titled "Women Who Fall from the Sky."
Neil Thorburn, interim provost for academic affairs, will present the graduation candidates, and CSB President Mary E. Lyons will confer degrees at the ceremony.
Sharon D'Agostino, a member of the CSB alumnae council, will welcome candidates to the alumnae association.
The CSB graduating class of 2000 is 488 students.
The College of Saint Benedict is a private, nationally recognized women's, residential, liberal arts, Catholic Benedictine college of 1,900 students, located in St. Joseph, Minn., joined in a coordinate mission with Saint John's University for men. As the only Catholic all-women's Baccalaureate I college, Saint Benedict's is unique in its commitment to gender-specific education within a coeducational environment.
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