Deaf Commencement Speaker

A deaf student will speak at a college commencement in California Saturday. Kirstie Kampen won the right through a competition to speech at the ceremonies of UC, Davis. About 750 graduating students and their guests are expected. Her speech reads in part, “I am a deaf student who learned to use what I still have — an intelligent mind, an unwavering spirit and the encouraging support of my family.“ By the time she became a teenager, Kampen had a profound hearing loss. The cause is unknown. She uses ASL, lip reading (because her hearing family does not sign), a hearing aid, and cochlear implant. Kampen hopes to attend medical school and become a cardiac surgeon. You can watch the ceremony take place live by clicking here on Saturday at 10am, Pacific.