Dr. Richard Lampe, Professor of Biology at Buena Vista University (BVU), has been named as the commencement speaker for the graduating class of 2014. Lampe graduated from Buena Vista College (BVC) in 1969 and began his career at BVC in 1988 as an Assistant Professor of Biology. He is set to retire after this year.

“Buena Vista has been a rich part of my life. I met my wife here, had my early years as a student guided by caring professors, and then found myself back on this campus as a faculty member. My own career has been a wonderful experience in which I have been surrounded by many professionals who also chose this as their life’s work,” Lampe said. “This community of scholars and administrators is a testament of our desire to invest in the lives of students and to prepare them for a life of meaning and purpose. As I have said throughout my years here, I thought this would be a good place for me to start (and I was correct) and now it will be a good place for me to finish.”

During his time at BVU, he has taught a number of classes and taught a number of students. President Fred Moore says that because Lampe is retiring after this year and because of the impact he had on many of his students, it was fitting to choose him as the commencement speaker.

“I’m sure it will be a very personal message, he’s spent virtually his entire life here as an alum and a professor, so I think it will be a message toward the graduates and I think they will greatly enjoy it,” Moore said.

Graphic by Aaron Burns