Erica Lemansky '05 has been chosen to be this year's senior commencement speaker, according to Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer. Lemansky, a psychology major with a minor in education studies, served as Student Union Vice President this past year. She has also served as class of 2005 senator and as Rosenthal Quad senator.

The announcement came after seniors selected from five speaker candidates on ranked voting ballots and the approval of the election's victor by University President Jehuda Reinharz.

"I'm so excited to be senior speaker," Lemansky said. "I've always wanted to speak at commencement."

Lemansky is also a three-time orientation leader and was the orientation special programs coordinator last summer. She prides herself on spearheading the creation of the Brandeis Achievement Award, a $5,000 per semester scholarship awarded for service to the Brandeis community.

"I think I represent the class well and I wanted to be one of the last people to speak to the class and wish them luck after graduation," Lemansky said. "I want to make sure that everyone leaves Brandeis with as positive an impression as I have."

Sawyer chaired the committee that reviewed the candidates, which was comprised of eight students and four faculty members. The student members of the committee included the class senators, as well as representatives to the Board of Trustees and to the Alumni, and four senior students randomly selected by the Registrar's office.

The committee's faculty members include four professors who the administration feels best reflect the scope of the academic disciplines.

Once the committee was created in the fall, it chose an essay topic for applicants. Each committee member ranked the essays without knowing who authored them.

"The goal of the balloting was to have five finalists so that the top finalists were contacted and invited to come to the final meeting of the selection committee and each asked to give a sample speech," Sawyer said.

Of the 25 candidates in this year's election, the committee selected eleven, who were then placed on a ranked voting ballot online for a vote by the senior class.