By Mina Kim and Adam Grossberg
It’s graduation season and with colleges landing big-name commencement speakers (and dis-inviting others), it's easy to forget about the students who are chosen to speak by their institutions for their remarkable achievements.
At UC Berkeley’s commencement Saturday at California Memorial Stadium, Rebecca Peters will have the honor of addressing thousands of her peers.
In fourth grade, Peter's IQ score measured so low that her school deemed her unfit for college. Tomorrow, she'll graduate from Cal with a 3.98 GPA.
“It’s overwhelming. My parents were told that I would never learn to read at college level. I was put in basic classes and was bored to tears,” Peters said, crediting her tenacious parents and a dedicated teacher for turning her education around.
Peters, 23, is the recipient of the University Medal, awarded to UC Berkeley’s top graduating senior. She is graduating with a double major in society and environment, and interdisciplinary studies, with a minor in global poverty and practice.