May 11, 2011
Media Advisory -- Commencement
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover this week’s graduation ceremonies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. More than 3,200 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. Graduation ceremonies are open to the public, and tickets are not required.
Friday, May 13
College of Liberal Arts
5 p.m. -- SIU Arena
Jerome M. Mileur, professor emeritus in political science at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, will give the address and receive the Alumni Achievement Award. Mileur, originally from Murphysboro, is a two-degree graduate from SIUC.
Saturday, May 14
College of Education and Human Services
8:30 a.m. -- SIU Arena
Debra Braunling-McMorrow, vice president of business development and outcomes for NeuroRestorative, which specializes in providing rehabilitation to people with brain and spinal cord injuries, will give the address and receive the Alumni Achievement Award. Braunling-McMorrow is a two-degree SIUC graduate and lives in Cobden.
College of Science
8:30 a.m. -- Shryock Auditorium.
Thomas E. Holloway, president and chief executive officer of TheBANK of Edwardsville, will give the address and receive the Alumni Achievement Award. Holloway is a two-degree SIUC graduate and lives in Edwardsville.
College of Applied Sciences and Arts
11 a.m. – SIU Arena
Michael R. Peters, a former first officer with ExpressJet who now is a self-employed entrepreneur with several web-based businesses, will give the address and receive the Alumni Achievement Award. Peters is founder of “aviationinterviews.com,” and through the website’s success has donated some of the business proceeds to students in the University’s nationally recognized aviation program. Since 2003, 57 students received scholarships totaling $180,000. Peters lives in Marengo.
College of Agricultural Sciences
11 a.m. -- Shryock Auditorium
John E. Gunter, dean and professor emeritus in the College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University, will give the address and receive the Alumni Achievement Award. Gunter, who lives in Marion, is vice president of the Illinois Forestry Association.
College of Engineering
1:30 p.m. -- SIU Arena
Laurie K. Landgraf, senior counsel at The Boeing Company, will give the address and receive the Alumni Achievement Award. She is a two-degree SIUC graduate, and lives in St. Louis.
College of Mass Communication and Media Arts
1:30 p.m. -- Shryock Auditorium
Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the Illinois Broadcasters Association, will give the address and receive the Alumni Achievement Award. Lyle is a two-degree SIUC graduate, and with his wife, Paula, are former owners of WCIL AM-FM.
In addition, Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of “Democracy Now!” will receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Discourse at the commencement ceremony and will speak for about 10 minutes.
College of Business
4 p.m. -- SIU Arena. Jeffrey M. Kottkamp, a senior client audit partner-banking and securities with Deloitte, will give the address and receive the Alumni Achievement Award. Kottkamp is currently the global lead client service partner for Morgan Stanley, one of the largest audit clients of the Deloitte global firm, and a member of the Board of Directors of Deloitte & Touche, LLP. He lives in Basking Ridge, N.J.
In addition, Carbondale businessman George Sheffer, owner and president of Murdale True Value, and William “Bill” Beck, of Mount Vernon, the CEO of Beck Bus Transportation, will each receive Distinguished Service Awards during the College of Business commencement. The award is in recognition of their service and devotion to their alma mater and Southern Illinois.
School of Law
4 p.m. -- Shryock Auditorium
Judge Michael A. Wolff, a member of the Supreme Court of Missouri, will give the address, and Judge Leslie J. Gerbracht, a district judge in Las Animas County, Colo., will receive the Alumni Achievement Award.
Graduate School
7 p.m. -- SIU Arena
Traditionally, there is no guest speaker for the program. Doctoral and master’s degree candidates from the various colleges will receive their degrees.