11 seniors to be saluted during Commencement

by Daniel J. Fitzgibbons, Chronicle staff

leven seniors will be recognized as Leaders for the 21st Century during the 133rd Commencement on Sunday, May 25 at 10 a.m. in Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

     Approximately 4,000 undergraduates are candidates for bachelor's degrees.

     Two alumni will be awarded honorary degrees during the ceremony: Kathleen A. Cote, managing partner of Boston Commerce Ventures, and Steven M. Gluckstern, founding managing director of Azimuth Alternative Asset Management. Chancellor John V. Lombardi and President William M. Bulger will offer remarks, and a student speaker will offer a brief address.

     A reception for graduates and their families hosted by the chancellor will take place immediately following the ceremony, under a tent located in the southeast corner of the stadium.

     The newly established senior leadership awards are sponsored by the Chancellor's Office and the Alumni Association. The awards are intended to recognize students who are academically accomplished and who have contributed to the University by exceptional achievements that distinguish themselves or enhance the reputation of the campus. The recipients are nominated by faculty for: strong leadership qualities; noteworthy original research; community service; the achievement of success by overcoming extraordinary personal circumstances; or public presentation through art, performance, or athletic ability.

     The presentation of the senior awards during Commencement focuses the ceremony on the accomplishments of students and on the recognition of the support received from their families.

     "Commencement recognizes our students, celebrates their achievements, recognizes exemplary student performance, and honors outstanding alumni and friends of the University," said Lombardi. "It's also an opportunity to congratulate students, families, and friends at the post-Commencement reception."

     The University will hold a separate Commencement ceremony for approximately 1,200 master's and doctoral degree candidates at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, in the Mullins Memorial Center. Ernesto Zedillo, president of Mexico from 1994-2000, now a member of the faculty at Yale University, will be awarded an honorary degree. James F. Walker Jr., interim dean of the Graduate School, will offer a welcome. Lombardi and Bulger will deliver brief remarks.

     Also on May 24, approximately 110 candidates will receive associate of science degrees from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at a 2 p.m. ceremony in Bowker Auditorium. The keynote speaker will be Kevin J. Hollister, a Stockbridge and University alumnus who has worked in the nursery and landscape field and is now pursuing a teaching career.

     Additional events on May 24 include the Phi Beta Kappa installation in the Lincoln Campus Center Auditorium at 2:30 p.m.; School of Nursing Pinning and Hooding Celebration, Fine Arts Center, 2 p.m.; Army/Air Force ROTC Joint Commissioning ceremony, Bowker Auditorium, 5 p.m.; Isenberg School of Management Commencement celebration, Mullins Center, 5 p.m.; College of Engineering Commencement celebration, Fine Arts Center, 7 p.m.

     Following the University ceremony on May 25, the School of Education Undergraduate Commencement celebration will take place at 1 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.
Other Commencement-related events occurring prior to May 24-25 include the Commonwealth College Celebration of Excellence on May 10 at 2 p.m. and the annual Commencement Ball on Friday May 23 at 7 p.m.

     A full schedule of departmental events related to Commencement can be found online (www.umass.edu/commencement/).