San Antonio, TX, (May 5, 2009) – San Antonio College American Sign Language student Lorna Francis will speak on behalf of graduates 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9, for the  commencement exercise at Municipal Auditorium, One Auditorium Circle.

 Francis, 31, who will receive her associate in applied science, is the first American Sign Language (ASL) student to be chosen as graduation speaker.

“I was very surprised and shocked, honored and excited,” Francis said.    Despite the fact that Francis doesn’t think herself as outspoken, ASL and Interpreter Training Department Chair Lauri Metcalf urged her to take the commencement role.   

In a twist on tradition, Francis will have an ASL interpreter interpreting when she speaks to the audience and after she addresses her family by signing.  

“The department is really proud of Lorna and the personal growth that she has achieved this year,” Metcalf said. Established at SAC in 1994, the ASL program is the largest in Texas.  

“I just love the fact that they even offer ASL at San Antonio College,” said Francis, a married mother of two.  Francis’ mother, Ophelia Thompson, is deaf and her father, Waymon  [cq] Thompson, is hard of hearing.

“I definitely signed before I could read – my mom taught me when I was a baby in her hands,” she said.

While she knew casual signing, Francis learned the more formal register of signing at SAC. “Interpreting for business is totally different than signing for my mother,” Francis said, adding that she relearned some of her signing style in addition to studying deaf culture and history of ASL.

 Theater and Communications Chair Jeff Hunt asked Francis to be the graduation speaker after seeing her perform Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine” at the “ASL on Stage” talent show in February.  

“When I saw Lorna I was immediately drawn to her energy and enthusiasm as a performer. Because of those traits and her being an American Sign Language major, I felt confident that she would draw in a large crowd that would be inspired by her speech,” Hunt said.  

Hunt is coaching Francis for the speech, which she says is about her life experiences and overcoming obstacles.

“I will tell them (the graduates) not to give up, no matter how long it takes you to finish school,” she said.    

A graduate of Southwest High School, Francis began her studies at SAC in 1999 and juggles family and a fulltime bank job.  Francis will attend Texas A&M University at Kingsville System Center San Antonio in Fall 2010 to pursue a criminal justice degree.  She hopes to be an interpreter for the court or a doctor’s office.  

Some 670 students are expected to walk the stage at the SAC graduation ceremony, that’s up 140 students from last year, according to Joe Jacques, assistant admissions director.