Governor John Hickenlooper will be taking a brief hiatus from meetings in Washington D.C. and campaigning to address the AHS class of 2015 in the Aspen Music Tent on May 29th.

In early March, the graduation committee met and brainstormed a list of attributes they were looking for in a graduation speaker. The group of seniors came up with inspirational, entrepreneurial, young, motivated, and wise. Cavanaugh and Blanca O’Leary were the connection between the class of 2015 and Governor Hicklooper.

The graduation committee was thrilled when the Governor responded to a letter, drafted with help from Blanca O’Leary (Pitkin County Democratic Party Chair), and Kathy Klug.

“What I am most excited for this year is that our speaker is well known and has a vast history with Colorado and the educational system here,” Bentley Rager, a member of the graduation committee, said.

Hicklooper has also experienced entrepreneurial success with the many breweries he has opened around the state, and students hope he will speak to how they can achieve some version of his business success.

“I hope he answers questions regarding where he thinks society will be in the future. I hope he is inspiring and gives us advice on how we can succeed,” Rager said.

Megan Doherty, a member of the class of 2015, is excited for the possible advice the Governor will give.

“I’m looking forward to hearing such an influential person speak. I believe youth should be more involved in political issues, and this could be a wake up call,” Doherty said. “In the graduation address I hope he also talks about the qualities and attributes people need to be leaders.”

As students head out of Aspen they will need to look towards the future, and the graduation speaker traditionally has the responsibility of giving students their best advice on facing what is to come.

The class of 2015 is hopeful that through such a well-known political figure in Colorado, they can start the next stage of their lives with more confidence and knowledge.

“I am scared that college will not be what I expected.” senior Piper Hamill said. “And I hope that the Governor is able to convince me that fear is okay!”