ISU commencement speakers

The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
·2 min read

Dec. 8—On Dec. 16, 579 graduates will cross the stage at Hulman Center as part of Indiana State University's 2023 winter commencement.

Commencement speakers are students Megan Shrader and Regan Zerwig as well as alums Anita Klopfenstein and Todd Bess.

The graduate ceremony is at 10 a.m. and the undergraduate ceremony at 1 p.m.

Ceremonies will be live-streamed.

Undergraduate program speakers:

Megan Shrader of Columbus, IN, embodies the meaning of persistence, according to an ISU news release.

After graduating from Columbus North High School in 2013, her academic journey was cut short twice. In the aftermath of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Shrader committed to graduating, and in 2021, she got her associate degree in general studies from Ivy Tech Community College before transferring to ISU.

Shrader works at WTHI-TV as a photojournalist, and after graduation, her goals include owning a production company that will break boundaries while empowering and elevating the voices of women and minorities. She will graduate with a degree in communication with a concentration in digital and interactive media.

Alum Anita Klopfenstein from St. Clair Shores, Mich., graduated from ISU with a bachelor of science in radio, TV, and film before earning her M.B.A. from Liberty University.

She is the chief information officer of Little Caesars and oversees technology's strategic direction, development, and maintenance.

Previously, she served as Panera's vice president of e-commerce and consumer systems. A professional with over 25 years of experience, Klopfenstein has been recognized as the Top Innovator at the Women in Foodservice Technology Awards in 2017, the 2022 CIO of the Year by Inspire CIO in the enterprise category, and as the CIO of the Year from HMG Strategy in the large-cap division in 2023. She and her husband have been awarded the Foster Parents of the Year multiple times in Illinois.

Graduate program speakers:

Regan Zerwig of Ste. Genevieve, MO, earned her undergraduate degree in studio arts with minors in interior architecture design and entrepreneurship in 2022 from ISU. She will graduate with a master's degree in fine arts in sculpture.

Zerwig's dream is to continue creating environments that exude wonder, beauty, and change, promoting personal mediation, reflection, and transformation.

On top of her studies, Zerwig is a recognized artist, with many of her pieces winning awards and on display at various locations across the Wabash Valley. Upon graduating from ISU, she'll begin her professional career as an art and design department faculty member at Marian University while continuing her work as an artist.

Alum Todd Bess from Indianapolis earned his superintendent's license and doctorate from ISU. He is the executive director of the Indiana Association of School Principals.

Bess previously served as a math teacher, assistant principal, principal and superintendent. He is also an affiliate faculty member at Indiana State, where he instructs in the Ph.D. program.

Indiana State's winter commencement ceremonies are open to the public.