Sen. Klobuchar to speak at St. Olaf commencement
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the United States Senate, will deliver the charge to the graduating class at St. Olaf College’s commencement ceremony.
Commencement will be held on Sunday, May 28, at 3 p.m. on the Campus Green between Mellby and Tomson Halls. The ceremony will be broadcast at various indoor locations on campus, and it will be streamed and archived online.
Since her election to the U.S. Senate in 2006, Klobuchar has earned a reputation as an effective, results-driven legislator with a penchant for bringing people together to get things done.
Throughout her public service, Klobuchar has embraced the values she learned growing up in Minnesota. Her grandfather worked 1,500 feet underground in the iron ore mines of Northern Minnesota. She is the daughter of a newspaperman and an elementary school teacher. Her mom continued teaching until she was 70.
Klobuchar has long been a champion for high-quality education for everyone — from the youngest learners to college students. She has fought to increase support for math and science education to give students the training and skills they need to compete in the global marketplace. She partnered with Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota to pass a law that helps states establish or expand STEM-focused specialty schools and programs.
Klobuchar has also championed measures to make college more affordable. She successfully fought to expand access to Pell Grants and is currently pushing for a bill that would allow students to refinance their student loans.
Beyond education, Klobuchar is focused on bread and butter economic policies and on building a competitive agenda to strengthen Minnesota’s economy. She is a leader in helping businesses tap into new markets abroad and has led successful national initiatives to boost American tourism.
The valedictorian of her Wayzata High School class, Klobuchar graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. She also served as Hennepin County Attorney, heading the largest prosecutor’s office in Minnesota for eight years.