University Recreation Employee Selected as 2015 Spring Commencement Speaker

University Recreation is proud to say that one of our own will be the Spring Commencement speaker for the 2015 graduation. Lela Johnston has been with University Recreation for most of her collegiate career. Starting as a Facility Assistant, she has moved up to be a Facility Operations Program Assistant.

Lela Johnston is a senior in Political Science with a minor in Nonprofit Studies. Outside of University Recreation, she is involved with University Theatre. She has been in productions throughout college, and was recently the lead in “Little Shop of Horrors.” She has worked on political campaigns such as Hagan for U.S. Senate, and is currently an intern with NARAL-NC. In her free time, she enjoys running and baking.

As a Facility Operations Program Assistant, she has numerous responsibilities. She helps hire and train new employees and presents at staff meetings. This year, she organized our Healthy Food Drive to benefit Haven House, and created the Facility Operations Mentor Program. She said, “the most valuable lesson I’ve learned at University Recreation is the importance of relationships. Not only the important relationships with coworkers, but users as well. This is knowledge I can use no matter what paths I take after graduation.”

Even through being involved in numerous activities and commitments, Johnston has never let her grades suffer. She said, “My greatest accomplishment while being a student at NC State has been maintaining straight A’s throughout my collegiate career.” Being chosen as the Student Commencement Speaker is also another accomplishment that she can add to that list.

“I don’t really “bow out quietly” from anything. This speech is my chance to “run through the tape” at the finish line of college.” She recognizes this as an incredible honor and a moment she will never forget. She feels that she has a journey that can be meaningful to others, so that is why she wanted to be the Student Commencement Speaker. She said, “Words cannot describe what this means to me.”

There is no doubt that Johnston will represent University Recreation and NC State well during her presentation of this speech, and will continue to do so after graduation.