Natalie Milko to Deliver Welcoming Remarks at Valdosta State University Convocation Ceremony

2016 Apr 13

Natalie Milko of Valdosta, Georgia, is the Spring 2016 welcome speaker for the College of the Arts convocation ceremony at Valdosta State University.

Milko was selected for this honor by faculty, staff, and administrators from the College of the Arts, in recognition of her long-term membership on the Dean's Advisory Council; she was appointed in the fall of 2013. The council is comprised of select students from each department within the college who serve as liaisons between the dean and the student body.

As VSU celebrates its 221st commencement on Saturday, May 7, Milko will give opening remarks to her faculty, fellow graduates, family, and friends at the College of the Arts convocation ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Fine Arts Amphitheatre. She will later receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design at 8 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

"It is such an honor to be welcoming my fellow graduates and their loved ones on the day we paint a fresh coat of gesso on our canvas of life," said the daughter of John and Kelly Milko.

As a student at VSU, Milko served as president of the American Society of Interior Designers and as a university ambassador and worked as a design assistant with the university's Facilities Planning team. She was also the recipient of the Danielle B. Harmon Student Merit Scholarship.

A regular on the Dean's List, Milko received numerous honors and awards, including first place for the three-minute research video competition at the 2016 VSU Undergraduate Research Symposium, first runner-up for the Arts and Humanities Poster Competition at the 2014 VSU Undergraduate Research Symposium, and honorable mention for her restaurant design, "The Till," at the VSU Department of Art's 2015 annual Juried Student Art Competition.

Milko will begin working for BFB Gladwin Architects immediately following graduation.

"Working within the field of architecture has always been a dream of mine," she said.

About Valdosta State University:

Valdosta State University is a comprehensive university characterized by outstanding instruction, a wide range of student life opportunities, and a close connection to the community. Established in 1906, the institution's mission is to prepare students to meet global opportunities and challenges through excellence in teaching and learning; to expand the boundaries of current knowledge and explore the practical applications of that knowledge through excellence in scholarship and creative endeavors; and to promote the economic, cultural, and educational progress of the community and region through excellence in service outreach.

Valdosta State University seeks to accomplish this mission in a dynamic, student-centered learning environment marked by a respect for diverse abilities, backgrounds, and contributions by all members of the university community.

On the Web:

http://www.valdosta.edu/welcome.php