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Commencement Activities Fill Weekend Schedule
In the long distance race of the academic year, this week is the big final kick. Beginning Saturday morning and continuing through early afternoon on Sunday, approximately 5,400 undergraduate, graduate and Stockbridge School of Agriculture students will be awarded degrees in three separate Commencement ceremonies. The biggest event of the weekend is the 130th Commencement on Sunday, when nearly 4,000 graduates receive bachelor's degrees. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. in McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Chancellor David K. Scott will preside and President William M. Bulger will confer the degrees. The principal address will be given by Billie Jean King, legendary tennis star and a longtime champion of social change. King will be awarded an honorary degree during the ceremony. Other honorary degrees will be presented to alumnus Jeffrey A. Davidow, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico; alumnus and benefactor Eugene M. Isen-berg, the chairman and chief executive officer of Nabors Industries Inc. in Houston; and Edgar E. Smith, former University vice president for Academic Affairs. The student address will be delivered by Litza J. Meléndez, a Journalism major from Amherst. Chancellor Scott, President Bulger, and Board of Trustees Chair Robert S. Karam are also scheduled to make remarks. James "Jess" Kane, '70, vice president of the Alumni Association will also offer greetings. The processional will be led by mace bearer George R. Richason, Jr., professor of Chemistry. The faculty marshals are Lisa Henderson of Communication and Kalidas Shetty of Food Science. The alumni marshals are Virginia M. Roaf, '50, and George M. Roaf, '48. This year's ceremony is coordinated by Gloria V. Fox of University Advancement. The ceremony will be held rain or shine. If there is a heavy rain, the ceremony will be shortened by about 25 minutes to conclude in less than an hour. If the abbreviated program is to be followed, processional participants with speaking roles or direct roles in the ceremony will be given additional instructions. Those driving to campus should allow sufficient time to get through traffic, which may be heavy as early as 9 a.m. Parking in campus lots and use of shuttles buses to and from the stadium is advised. The buses will circle the campus every 5-10 minutes beginning at 8:15 a.m. and will drop riders at the stadium's main gates. After the ceremony, the buses will transport guests back to parking areas. Graduate Commencement As in recent years, the weekend rites begin Saturday with the Graduate Commencement ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the Mullins Center. About 1,300 master's and doctoral degrees will be bestowed. Honorary degrees will be presented to alumnus Evan S. Dobelle, president of Trinity College in Hartford; South African freedom-fighter Ahmed M. Kathrada, a former member of the South African Parliament; and alumnus Bruce M. Penniman, the 1999 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. President Bulger, Chancellor Scott and Graduate dean Charlena Seymour will take part in the ceremony. Stockbridge Commencement Approximately 120 students will receive associate of science degrees from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at its 78th Commencement on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Bowker Auditorium. The keynote speaker will be Jeffrey B. LaFleur, a 1988 Stockbridge alumnus and executive director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, one of the oldest agricultural trade associations in the U.S. Phi Beta Kappa Installation The annual induction ceremony for juniors and seniors elected to Phi Beta Kappa will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Campus Center Auditorium. Keynote speaker is Richard D. O'Brien, former interim chancellor and professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; occasional poet is Robert Bagg, professor emeritus of English. A reception for new members and their families will follow the ceremony. All Phi Beta Kappa members and members of the University community are invited to attend. School of Nursing The School of Nursing holds its Commencement Celebration: Pinning and Hooding on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center. A total of 154 undergraduate students will receive their nurse's pins and 46 students will receive their master's and doctoral hoods during the ceremonies. The Keynote speaker for the event is Barbara Guthrie, assistant professor and research scientist at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. Her talk is titled "Nursing: The Challenge to Take the STANCE." Chancellor David K. Scott will deliver a welcome. ROTC Commissioning The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) holds its joint Army-Air Force commissioning at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Bowker Auditorium. The keynote speaker is Col. Martin Mazick, commander of the 439th Airlift Wing, West-over Air Reserve Base in Chicopee. Chancellor David K. Scott will also address the cadets. At the ceremony, 20 cadets will be commissioned as second lieutenants. The Army ROTC will commission 15 cadets, 11 from UMass and four from Western New England College (WNEC). The Air Force ROTC will commission five, two from UMass, two from WNEC, and one from Smith College. |
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