MINOT — It's an honor well deserved, and a first on campus. Philip Green, a Professional Communications senior, has been selected to speak to Minot State University graduates.
“It is very significant to me,” said Neil Roberts, MSU associate professor. “I’ve been here 29 years, and he is the first major in this department to be asked to speak. It’s well deserved. Phil will be in front of everybody with words of wisdom.”
Strong words from someone who has become well acquainted with Green’s work on campus. As for Green, he is taking it in stride in his usual confident demeanor.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Green when asked about the honor. “I was surprised they chose me over some other candidates that would have been good speakers as well.”
Green, who plays defensive back for the MSU football team, says the message he will share on graduation day will come, in part, from the practice field. It is there that a player is selected at random to come up with the “word of the day.”
“I’m going to kind of relay some of my favorite words of the day from the last couple of years,” explained Green. “I want to do this from the perspective of a student athlete.”
Green is passionate about sports, and his education. He’ll be graduating with a degree in Professional Communications but intends to continue his schooling at MSU by pursuing master’s degrees in both Business and Sports Management.
Green’s enthusiasm for learning, and his work ethic, has not gone unnoticed by Roberts.
“He’s always been the quiet leader, always willing to learn new things,” said Roberts. “Once he’s part of something, he’s an integral part you don’t want to lose.”
That Green has been able to integrate his love of sports with professional communications isn’t entirely surprising. In fact, it was evident at an early age.
“I’ve always liked broadcasting from the sports side,” said Green. “When I was a little kid, I snuck into the announcer's booth at one of my brother’s football games in Parker, Colorado and started calling play-by-play.”
What young Green didn’t realize was that his voice was being picked up by live microphones. Now, as he gets closer to leaving campus in pursuit of a career, he has a similar goal in mind.
“If I stick to the sports side, doing something in sports, I’m sure I’ll be happy,” stated Green.
Roberts has no doubt about Green’s ability beyond Minot State.
“He’s so good to work with, always glass half full,” said Roberts. “There’s problem creators and problem solvers. Phil’s definitely a problem solver.”
MSU graduation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, May 13 in the MSU Dome.
