A lot has happened since that afternoon for Wagner, but the 22-year-old experienced a full-circle moment of sorts during the University of Iowa’s graduation ceremony earlier this month.

Wagner was selected to be the 2023 commencement speaker by professors from the UI Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.

The ex-Dodger graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree in chemical engineering, with a minor in chemistry.

“A committee within the College of Engineering reviewed the nominations from all departments and selected me,” said Wagner, whose final grade point average at Iowa was 4.20. “I was extremely excited and honored to be able to take on this role, especially since it had been a goal of mine to speak at my college graduation ever since I graduated from FDSH back in 2019.

Photo by the University of Iowa
Anthony Wagner, a 2019 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, gets ready to deliver his commencement speech for the University of Iowa Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering's graduating class earlier this month.

“I decided to approach my speech in a way that focused on being thankful for the support I’ve received from everyone in my life while emphasizing that maintaining and building relationships is more important than anything I could’ve learned in a classroom. I also threw in some motivation for the futures of all the graduating engineers.”

The nomination and subsequent selection initially caught Wagner off guard. His speech came in front of approximately 400 UI chemical and biochemical engineering graduates.

“I was surprised,” Wagner said. “I did not have any knowledge of the process for choosing the speaker or that my professors had nominated me until I was selected.”

Wagner has accepted a position as a process design engineer at Citgo Petroleum Corporation in Lemont, Illinois His start date is June 26.

“In the long term, I plan to work my way up to be a manager of a group of engineers and eventually be a plant manager,” Wagner said.

Photo by the University of Iowa
Anthony Wagner, a 2019 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, gives his commencement speech for the University of Iowa Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering's graduating class earlier this month.

At Fort Dodge Senior High, Wagner earned multiple academic all-state awards as a three-sport athlete. He served as student body president, and was the 2019 Bernie Saggau Award winner.

“I think what I took away most from my time at FDSH was confidence in my ability to be a leader,” Wagner said. “Being involved with student government in high school as the student body president helped develop my leadership skills and pushed me to get involved as a leader in multiple student organizations in college.

“Along with that, FDSH provided me with a solid foundation in the STEM-related topics that were necessary in pursuing a chemical engineering degree.”

Wagner knows he will always rely on his hometown roots for perspective and direction as he enters the professional world.

“My biggest influences to date have been my family,” Wagner said. “They provided me with a path for success by teaching and showing me how to have a strong work ethic and good character while prioritizing relationships.

“I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done to help me get to this stage of my life.”