Gold medalist Katie Nageotte encourages 900 newest AU graduates to speak their dreams
ASHLAND, Ohio – For Katie Nageotte, the self-described “dumb jock in my family,” speaking at a college commencement was something she never saw herself doing. In fact, she said, she missed her own college graduation because she was in training.
That training paid off. Nageotte, an Ashland University alumna, won a gold medal in the pole vault in this year’s Summer Olympics. And she also was tagged as the University’s speaker for its Winter commencement, held Saturday at Kates Gymnasium.
It was a perfect day for a commencement – cold and raining outside, but warm and celebratory inside. It was like a golden glow had settled over campus, said AU President Carlos Campo, who admitted that in seeing Nageotte’s Olympic gold, “I’ve never had medallion envy like I do today.”
More than 900 students received associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees after completing their studies either during the summer or fall 2021 terms.
Nageotte said she knew little about delivering a commencement address, though she imagined that the shorter it was, the better. Having started her pole vault career at 12, she said she had over the years learned some lessons she wanted to share with the graduating class.
“Don’t be afraid to say what your dreams are,” said Nageotte, recalling that she failed to put “becoming an Olympian” on a school exercise, opting instead to share with her class her fear of spiders.
Once those dreams are spoken, Nageotte said, “be unapologetic about what those dreams are” and surround yourself with people who support you in achieving those dreams.
And be intentional, as Nageotte was when she changed her mindset from going with the flow to making each and every jump – including practice jumps – as perfect as she could. That is not always possible, as “life will not be smooth 100% of the time,” she said. “It is how you deal with it. My biggest failure was not making the Olympic team in 2016,” but that failure forced her to be intentional about making the 2020 team.
It’s also important to be your own cheerleader and to surround yourself with others who cheer for you. While it was Nageotte who had the medal placed around her neck, she “admitted I couldn’t do it alone” and subsequently asked for help from a coach who “rebuilt me to be the champion I am today.” That move also required Nageotte to humble herself and ask for help when she needed it.
Campo said Nageotte was chosen as commencement speaker not only because of her accomplishments, but also “because she reflects the values of our institution.”
Saturday’s commencement included a couple of notable “firsts” for AU: the first African-American female Student Senate president, Yosoloajesu Olujide-Ajibade, as well as the first with the City of Ashland’s mayor, AU alumni Matt Miller.
“It’s not hard to be humble if you remember that there’s always someone in the room smarter than you,” said Miller, noting the accomplishments of the graduating class next to his role as mayor, which requires only that he is “18 or older and a resident” of Ashland.
In all, Campo said, it was a great day. “We all just want to shout,” he said. “It’s an exciting day.”