Congressman Jared Polis has been selected as the keynote speaker for the Metro State’s Spring 2011 Commencement. More than 1,600 students are expected to graduate at the ceremony to be held May 15 at 9 a.m. on the Auraria Campus Athletic Fields. It will be the second outdoor commencement ceremony in the College’s 45-year history. The first was held last year (see photos).
Polis was elected to Congress in 2008 and represents the Second Congressional District of Colorado. To date, he is the first openly gay male elected to Congress as a freshman.
In Congress, the Boulder native serves on the House Rules Committee and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and is a Democratic Caucus Regional Whip. He is a charter member and vice-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition, the Chair of the Immigration task force of the Progressive Caucus, and an honorary Co-Chair of Third Way.
While attending Princeton University, Polis co-founded his first company, American Information Systems, and has since launched several successful business ventures. He has been named an “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst and Young and one of America’s “Top Ten Young Entrepreneurs” by Success Magazine.
Education is a continuing theme in many of Polis’s initiatives. He believes education is the only meaningful, long-term stimulus initiative communities can make to invest in and reinvigorate the American economy. He was elected to the Colorado State Board of Education in 2000 and was the youngest chairman in the history of the board. During his six-year tenure, Polis strongly advocated school reform and enhancing educational opportunities. Learn more about the variety of ways Polis has invested in education at the Jared Polis Foundation.
Polis has served on various boards including as Chairman of the National Association of State Boards of Education’s Commission on Financial and Investor Literacy.
Watch upcoming issues of @Metro for more about the graduating class and other details in preparation for commencement.
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