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A theater student who died in a Madison fire was awarded the first ‘extraordinary degree’ Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse commencement ceremonies.
The parents of Peter Talen accepted the degree honoring their son’s achievement and acknowledging the loss to the university, family and friends after Talen died in a house fire near the University of Wisconsin-Madison in November.
“Peter was a treasured member of our theater department,” said Mary Leonard, associate professor in UW-L’s Department of Theater Arts, before presenting the degree to Peter’s parents, Tim and Patty Talen. “He loved to create.”
The degree celebrates Talen’s affect on the university and allows others to share in Talen’s success as a student, said Bill Clow, interim associate dean for the College of Liberal Studies and director of the School of Arts and Communication.
Clow nominated Talen for the degree on behalf of the UW-L theater department, he said. Clow led the drive to establish the extraordinary degree concept, which was approved by the UW-L Faculty Senate and the leadership of the university, according to UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow.
“One thing about this is that it reminds everyone out there with families how lucky they are and also that
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while Peter is gone, his spirit is still with us,” Gow said.
An extraordinary degree can be awarded to students who die during their studies at UW-L, but not during their final year, said Gow.
Talen had taken a break from school in the fall of 2007 and was planning to return to UW-L in January 2008, said Clow.
“He contributed so much to the theater department, not just in terms of some excellent acting, but also his character and his personality,” said Beth Cherne, chairwoman of the theater department. “He was always positive, funny, worked hard at acting, loved the theater, his friends and music. He was a real gem.”
After Talen’s parents received his degree, guests, family and some of the more than 1,500 students graduating on Saturday broke into applause and gave a standing ovation in the Mitchell Hall gymnasium.
KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com. Joe Orso can be reached at (608) 791-8429 or jorso@lacrossetribune.com.
