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Northland College celebrates 100th Commencement

May 20, 2011

More than 130 graduates will be eligible to receive their diplomas at Northland College’s 100th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 28. The event will be held in the Kendrigan Gymnasium on the Northland College campus beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Northland College was founded in 1892 as the North Wisconsin Academy and a college program, to be known as Northland College, was added in 1906. The Class of 2011 is the 100th Northland College graduating class.

Entrepreneur, Northland College alumni and Trustee John N. Allen will deliver the 2011 Commencement address. The student address will be given by graduating senior Travis Moore.

Originally from Suamico, Wisc., Allen graduated Northland College in 1977 with a degree in broadfield social science and minors in history and political science. He earned a law degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn. After completing his studies in 1980, Allen joined Coldwell Banker, where he quickly established himself as a top five producer, ultimately arranging more than 10 million square feet of sales and lease transactions by the time he left the company in 1995. In 1983, Allen founded Minneapolis-based Industrial Equities, LLC., a real restate investment company that now owns more than 3 million square feet of commercial property in several areas of the country.

Allen has been a dedicated and loyal supporter of Northland College for many years. As a student, he served as a student trustee, an experience he credits with aiding in the development of his public speaking skills. Upon graduation, Allen was an active member of the alumni association, and joined the Board of Trustees in 1997, assuming the role of Chairman of the Board in 2002.

“I have seen John Allen simultaneously fulfill several roles in life,” said Northland College President Michael A. Miller. “He is a successful business leader, generous community member and a grateful alumni of this college. But the role that gives him the greatest satisfaction is that of father and husband. His family remains at all times his first priority.”

In recognition of his long service to Northland College, Allen will be awarded an honorary Doctorate of Public Service.

Moore, originally from Nashville, Tenn., is graduating from Northland’s directed studies program with a major in Ecopsychology: Humanity’s Nature. An active student leader, Moore has represented his fellow students for several years as a Northland College Student Association (NCSA) Senator, worked to ease the transition to college for new students as a First Year Experience leader and volunteered with the Student Vending Initiative. Over the last academic year, Moore worked as the NCSA Coffehaus coordinator, the WRNC music director and student assistant manager and as the student manager of the admissions phone team.