Creative Arts Therapy Graduate Named Student Speaker 

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Nov. 30, 2021 — West Liberty University senior Juliana Haug has earned the honor of being the student speaker at Fall Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 11.

The ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC). Due to the pandemic, all guests, graduates and participants will be required to wear face masks indoors during the ceremony.

Haug is from Waynesboro, Va. and majored in Creative Arts Therapy. A graduate of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, she earned the highest GPA of any graduate of this college.

Maintaining a cumulative 3.95, Haug is graduating summa cum laude.

“I’m honored to speak at commencement,” said Haug.

Haug was a member of the Hilltopper women’s soccer team all four years while on the Hilltop. She was the secretary for the Creative Arts Therapy Club and was accepted into WLU’s Master of Art Therapy and Counseling degree program already and plans to graduate from this program in fall of 2023.

Her career goal is to work as an art therapist in a creative art therapy clinic in her hometown. She hopes to work with children or the geriatric population with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Eventually, she plans to earn her doctorate.

The daughter of Stephen and Shelley Haug of Waynesboro, she stated that her parents are looking forward to attending the commencement ceremony in person.  

The keynote commencement speaker is alumnus, local attorney and president of the Ohio County Board of Education David Croft.

One hundred and sixty students are expected to graduate and summer graduates also are invited to participate in the fall ceremony.

The graduating student speaker duties rotate among WLU’s four colleges. The graduating student with the highest GPA in each respective college has the honor of carrying the college banner.

The following students will serve as banner carriers:

• College of Business, Brendan Adams, Martins Ferry, Ohio
• College of Education & Human Performance, Lindsey Smith, Chester, W.Va.
• College of Sciences, Kamden Dulesky, Bridgeport, Ohio
• College of Liberal and Creative Arts, Lauren Anderson, Canton, Ohio
• Graduate Studies, Evelyn Frobey, Pawleys Island, S.C. 

Doors will open for seating at 9:30 a.m. and tickets are not required, however graduates are asked to limit guests to six or fewer due to social distancing, resulting in fewer seats.

The Commencement ceremonies will be streamed live on Topper Station and will be broadcast live on social media for those unable to attend. 

A reception for graduates, guests and families will be held in the College Union immediately following the ceremony. Parking will be available for guests behind the ASRC.