Colleen Kelly Starkloff delivers commencement address at Fontbonne University’s December commencement ceremony

Colleen Kelly Starkloff served as guest speaker at Fontbonne University’s December commencement ceremony, which which was held Saturday, Dec 17, at 10 a.m. in the Dunham Student Activity Center. The ceremony was broadcast LIVE via the University’s uStream portal.  We will post a captioned version of the commencement address on our website at a later date.

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Click here to view a transcript of Colleen’s commencement address.

Fontbonne University released the following statement:

Distinguished Advocate for People with Disabilities

to Speak at Fontbonne December Commencement

ST. LOUIS – Colleen Kelly Starkloff, co-founder of Paraquad and the Starkloff Disability Institute, will serve as guest speaker at Fontbonne University’s December commencement ceremony. Starkloff will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the ceremony, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m. in the Dunham Student Activity Center. Fontbonne will also honor Max Starkloff with a posthumous honorary doctorate of humane letters. 215 students are expected to receive their degrees.

Starkloff and her late husband, Max, quadriplegic due to a spinal cord injury, developed Paraquad, a community-based center for independent living that empowers people with disabilities to live independently in the world. They dedicated their lives to securing legislation and advocating for all people with disabilities. In 2003, they founded the Starkloff Disability Institute to create a world that welcomes all people with disabilities. Since Max’s death in 2010, Starkloff has continued to work as an impassioned advocate.

“We are honored to have Colleen Starkloff share her message with the December 2011 graduating class,” said Dennis C. Golden, president of Fontbonne. “This is a landmark occasion in our students’ lives, and Mrs. Starkloff’s powerful message will encourage them to continue living the Fontbonne mission to ‘think critically, act ethically and to assume responsibility as citizens and leaders long after graduation.”

Michael Horn, of south St. Louis County, will serve as the commencement student speaker. He will graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Additionally, the Fontbonne Alumni Association will recognize Amy Caby, of St. Louis, with the Alumni Hood Award, given at each commencement ceremony to an outstanding graduating student who has the potential to be an outstanding member of the alumni association. Caby will graduate cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from Fontbonne’s OPTIONS Program.

Fontbonne University is a Catholic coeducational institution of higher education offering liberal arts and professional programs, as well as accelerated formats for busy adults. Fontbonne was founded in 1923 and is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.