Arlington Native to Give Wheelock's Student Commencement Address

The following is a press release from Wheelock College.

Tamara Pace-Emerson, an Arlington native and senior at Wheelock College, has been selected to deliver the 2012 student speech at Wheelock’s commencement ceremony on Friday, May 11.

Pace-Emerson grew up in Arlington but graduated from high school in Framingham in 2006. She is a former City Year volunteer and a leader among the Wheelock College student body.

Pace-Emerson will graduate from Wheelock with a professional major in elementary education, as well as a bachelor’s degree in math and science. She also has a minor in juvenile justice and youth advocacy and hopes to continue in her education by attending medical school to study pediatrics or pursuing a degree in nursing.

While at Wheelock, Pace-Emerson participated in an independent study that took her to London to establish the first ever City Year London program, a leading education nonprofit that enables young people to volunteer for a year at London’s inner city schools. Pace-Emerson modeled the program on the City Year Boston program she participated in for two years prior to enrolling at Wheelock. While volunteering with City Year, Pace-Emerson served in the Mendell Elementary School in Roxbury and was named the Corps Member of the Year in 2008 when she received the Eli J. Segal Bridge Builder Award.

In addition to being chosen to deliver the commencement student address, Pace-Emerson was also recognized this year as Wheelock College’s 2012 Student Employee of the Year. She has worked in the Center for International Education, Leadership and Innovation for the past two years and was described by the Center director, Linda Davis as, “a shining star, and with every task she is given she impresses us every day.” Pace-Emerson is also the recipient of the 2012 Walter Burke Award, given to a Wheelock student who demonstrates enthusiasm for science or math, and shares that enthusiasm with children in a teaching or community setting.

According to Pace-Emerson, “The biggest challenge for me is making sure I find what I’m passionate about and I’m pursuing it,” she said. By combining her love for working with children and her love of science, Pace-Emerson believes she has found her passion. This summer, Pace-Emerson has accepted a summer research fellowship with the American Cancer Society. She hopes this will be an important step in expanding her academic work in medicine, while still embracing her love for working with children.