'Five Questions: Local student to address Holy Cross senior class'

Concord Monitor

In a recent interview with The Concord Monitor, Travis LaCouter, a senior at the College of the Holy Cross, spoke about his role as valedictorian, and his preparation for his Commencement address on Friday, May 24 at the College.

One of the 20 top students in this year’s graduating class, LaCouter submitted a commencement speech that was reviewed by an official college committee before receiving the honor of valedictorian. Remarking on his address, he said, “I set out to make the anti-valedictorian valedictorian speech. I didn’t want to do this self-congratulatory idealistic thing.” Then, further explaining the content of the address, he said, “I’ll make a call for realism and reasonable expectations as we leave college, mindful of the struggles that have brought us to graduation day.”

A resident of Concord, N.H., LaCouter plans to head to Washington, D.C., where he will study political philosophy and American government. But first, come graduation day, he  will speak in front of 700 seniors, their families and the faculty of the College, and while he notes that he has ample public speaking experience, he admits that Commencement “is so big that I’m sure when I get up there and look out and start, it’s going to be a little nerve-wracking, but I’m more excited than anything else.”

This ‘Holy Cross in the News’ item by David Cotrone ’13.