WMU News

WMU awards 2,473 degrees in commencement ceremonies April 22

April 14, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University will award 2,473 degrees in commencement ceremonies Saturday, April 22, in Miller Auditorium.

President Elson S. Floyd will preside over three ceremonies:

The first, at 9 a.m., is for graduates of the Haworth College of Business, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the College of Health and Human Services. Pastor David Weber of St. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Hancock, Mich., will give the invocation and the benediction. His daughter, Amy Weber, is graduating with a bachelor's degree in social work.

The second ceremony, at noon, is for graduates of the College of Aviation, the College of Education and the General University Studies Program. Chaplain Bill Hartman, a major in the U.S. Army from Jolon, Calif., will give the invocation and the benediction. His daughter, Susanne Overbeek, is graduating cum laude with a degree in special education.

The third ceremony, at 2:30 p.m., is for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Fine Arts. The Rev. J. Louis Felton of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Kalamazoo will give the invocation and the benediction.

This semester, 1,911 graduates will receive bachelor's degrees, 546 will earn master's and specialist degrees, and 16 will be awarded doctoral degrees. WMU also holds commencement exercises in June and December.

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 William Higley, president of the WMU Alumni Association.

Tickets are required for guests to attend the ceremonies. Each participating graduate is eligible to receive up to four guest tickets. If extra tickets are available, they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, April 21, at the Office of the Registrar, Room 3210 of the Seibert Administration Building.

Guests without tickets may view the exercises 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/wmu/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) 387-5020. The tapes are $20 each.

Media contact: Marie Lee, 616 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu


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