More than 1,800 to receive degrees
Dec. 1, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University will award 1,864 degrees during commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 9, that also will honor Sen. John J.H. Schwarz.
WMU President Elson S. Floyd will preside over three ceremonies in Miller Auditorium:
The 9 a.m. ceremony is for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Aviation and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Father Kenneth Schmidt of St. Thomas More Parish in Kalamazoo will give the invocation and the benediction.
The 11:30 a.m. ceremony is for graduates of the College of Education and the General University Studies Program. The Rev. David Ness of the First Evangelical Covenant Church of Grand Rapids, Mich., will give the invocation and the benediction. His niece, Carin M. Ness, is graduating with a doctoral degree in counseling psychology.
The 2 p.m. ceremony is for graduates of the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Fine Arts, and the Haworth College of Business. The Rev. J. Louis Felton of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Kalamazoo will give the invocation and the benediction.
Schwarz will receive an honorary doctor of public service degree at the 9 a.m. ceremony. The senator, who is serving his fourth consecutive term in the Michigan Senate, is receiving the award "in recognition of his years of service to the people of the state of Michigan."
This semester, 1,424 graduates will receive bachelor's degrees, 419 will earn master's and specialist degrees, and 21 will be awarded doctoral degrees. WMU also holds commencement exercises in April and June.
The Western Brass Ensemble conducted by Dr. Steve Wolfinberger, associate professor of music, will perform music for the ceremonies. The national anthem and the alma mater will be sung by WMU's chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia professional music fraternity. Graduates will be welcomed as new alumni of the University by Jeanne Carlson, president of the WMU Alumni Association.
Tickets will not be required to attend the ceremonies. If the auditorium fills to capacity, guests may view commencement ceremonies on a large-screen television in Room 3512 of Knauss Hall. Each ceremony will also be carried live on Channel 7 of EduCABLE, the University's cable television system, and on Channel 30 of the Cablevision system. In addition, video of the commencement may also be viewed online at the time of the ceremonies and for 30 days after the ceremony. The Web site address is <www.wmich.edu/commencement>.
University Video Services provides an opportunity for persons to purchase videotapes of any of the three ceremonies. Orders may be placed by calling (616) 387-5003. The tapes are $20 each.
Media contact: Marie Lee, 616 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu