University Communications and Marketing
MSUB Honors Club presents 'Last Lecture' by Mark Fenderson
March 26, 2014
Contacts:
Carmen Price, University Relations, 657-2243
Free presentation set for Wednesday, April 2
MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — The Montana State University Billings Honors Club will sponsor a “Last Lecture” by noted musician and music faculty member Dr. Mark Fenderson on Wednesday, April 2. The free capstone presentation will be at 7 p.m. in Cisel Recital Hall. The public is invited to attend.
The “Last Lecture” concept has been in existence for generations at college campuses across America and is intended to showcase faculty who are asked to present a topic they would give if asked to provide their final lecture to their students.
The “Last Lecture” idea became famous at Carnegie Mellon on Sept. 18, 2007, by Randy Pausch, and focused on “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” Pausch, a professor at that university, had received news that his cancer was terminal a month prior to the presentation. His lecture, reprised on the Oprah Winfrey Show, went viral on YouTube and has been used as an inspirational talk thousands of times.
The MSU Billings Honors Student Advisory Council, comprised of students who plan programming for the Honors Club, selected Fenderson to give the university’s “Last Lecture” this year. Not only is he a well-known and appreciated instructor, but also an accomplished musician. Fenderson earned his doctorate in trumpet performance from the University of North Texas. He conducts the MSUB symphonic and pep bands and is a member of the Billings Symphony and the Yellowstone Brass Quintet.
PHOTO ABOVE: Dr. Mark Fenderson