May 11, 2005

Media Advisory - Commencement

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover this weekend's graduation ceremonies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. More than 3,700 professional, graduate and undergraduate students are candidates for degrees.

Many times out-of-town guests turn to local media outlets to confirm commencement schedules. We would appreciate your help in sharing this schedule with your audiences.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Commencement Schedule

Here is the commencement schedule, followed, in order by speaker for each college ceremony, and honorary degrees and distinguished service honors being awarded:

Friday, May 13

College of Liberal Arts

5 p.m. – SIU Arena. Jagdish N. Bhagwati, University Professor at Columbia University. Bhagwati will also receive an honorary doctor of arts degree. Distinguished Service Award -- Marianne Webb, Distinguished University Organist and retired SIUC professor.

Saturday, May 14

College of Science

8:30 a.m. – Shryock Auditorium. William R. Norwood, Carbondale, retired United Airlines captain and former SIU Board of Trustees member.

College of Education and Human Services

8:30 a.m. – SIU Arena. Stephen B. Thomas, director, Center for Minority Health in the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh. Distinguished Service Award – Gerald B. "Jerry" Richards, former FBI special agent.

College of Agricultural Sciences

11 a.m. – Shryock Auditorium. Stephen J. Scates, Shawneetown, president of Scates Valley Inc.

College of Applied Sciences and Arts

11 a.m. – SIU Arena. Neil R. Swartz, corporate manager, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. Also, Air Force Master Sgt. Tracy Senstock will receive his bachelor of science degree live via satellite from Baghdad, Iraq.

College of Mass Communication and Media Arts

1:30 p.m. – Shryock Auditorium. Jacquelyn Spinner, staff writer for the Washington Post.

College of Engineering

1:30 p.m. – SIU Arena. Kevin Jelley, Motorola Fellow of the Technical Staff, and director of research, Motorola Labs, Schaumburg.

School of Law

4 p.m. – Shryock Auditorium. Julian Bond, chairman, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Honorary Doctor of Human Letters Degree – U.S. District Court Judge Constance Baker Motley, Southern District of New York.

College of Business and Administration

4 p.m. – SIU Arena. Robert J. Siracusano, senior financial advisor and branch manager, Wachovia Securities Financial Network, Naperville. Distinguished Service Award – attorney William A. Fenwick, Fenwick & West, LLP, Mountain View and San Francisco, Calif.

Graduate School

7 p.m. – SIU Arena.