WKU Commencement Weekend Activities Set For May 11-12

May 02, 2007

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s Commencement Weekend will feature three graduation ceremonies May 11-12, recognition of top students and the presentation of an honorary doctorate to film director John Carpenter.

During its 161st Commencement, WKU will confer degrees to 1,817 students who are completing their programs (129 associate’s, 1,359 baccalaureate and 329 master’s) this spring and will recognize several hundred more who will complete their degrees during the summer term, according to Registrar Freida Eggleton.

WKU added the Graduate Student ceremony to the May commencement last year. This year, WKU divided the undergraduate commencement into two ceremonies at Diddle Arena because of renovations and construction under way at L.T. Smith Stadium.

Here are some of the commencement highlights:

Graduate Student ceremony May 11: The graduate commencement will begin at 7 p.m. May 11 at Diddle Arena. The ceremony will feature special recognition of outstanding graduate students and individual hooding of each graduate student and two cooperative doctoral recipients. President Gary Ransdell will deliver remarks. A reception will follow in the Diddle Arena Hall of Champions.

Undergraduate ceremonies May 12: The 10 a.m. ceremony will include graduates in the Potter College of Arts & Letters, Gordon Ford College of Business, Bowling Green Community College and University College at Diddle Arena. The 3 p.m. ceremony will include graduates of the College of Health and Human Services, Ogden College of Science and Engineering and College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Diddle Arena. Dr. Ransdell will deliver remarks at both ceremonies. Army ROTC graduates will be commissioned at both ceremonies.

Honorary doctorate: John Carpenter, a successful director, screenwriter, producer and composer, will receive an honorary doctorate during the 10 a.m. ceremony May 12. Carpenter’s films include “Halloween,” “Escape from New York,” “The Thing” and “Vampires.” He is a graduate of College High and attended WKU from 1965 to 1968 before leaving Bowling Green for film school at the University of Southern California. Carpenter, who was inducted into WKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1999, will meet with WKU faculty and students on May 10 and 11 as part of his visit to campus.

Top scholar: Leigh Anne Roden of Summer Shade will be recognized as the Ogden Foundation Scholar at the 3 p.m. ceremony May 12. The Ogden Foundation Scholar Award is presented to one graduating baccalaureate degree senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and outstanding university and civic engagement. Students with the highest GPA in each college who had earned at least 64 hours at WKU were invited to apply for the award. Roden, one of 18 applicants for the award, will receive a plaque and a $1,000 award and will carry the WKU banner in the commencement processional. WKU also will recognize honor graduates at both undergraduate ceremonies.

Golden Anniversary Club: Members of the Class of 1957 will return to campus for the Golden Anniversary Club Reunion on May 11-12. They will march in the 10 a.m. processional wearing caps and gowns.

Television/Internet coverage: All three ceremonies will be broadcast live on WKYU-PBS. New this year will be live streaming video online at www.wkusports.tv thanks to a collaboration of the Registrar’s office, WKU Athletics and WKYU-PBS.

Other reunions: Several departmental groups are planning special recognition ceremonies during Commencement Weekend. The commencement schedule includes the following events:

Friday, May 11
4 p.m., Master of Social Work Pinning Ceremony at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.
4:30 p.m., Department of Psychology Reception for Graduate Students at Tate Page Hall lobby.
6 p.m., Outstanding Black Graduates Recognition Ceremony at Van Meter Hall.
7 p.m., Graduate Commencement at Diddle Arena.

Saturday, May 12
10 a.m., Undergraduate Commencement for Potter College of Arts & Letters, Gordon Ford College of Business, Bowling Green Community College and University College at Diddle Arena.
Noon, Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony at Downing University Center.
1 p.m., Army ROTC Commissioning at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.
1 p.m., Department of Nursing Convocation at Van Meter Hall.
2 p.m., Associate Degree Nursing Pinning Ceremony at Downing University Center Theater.
3 p.m., Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony for College of Health and Human Services, Ogden College of Science and Engineering and College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Diddle Arena.

More information on Commencement Weekend is available online at http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/Registrar/commencement.htm
               
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Freida Eggleton at (270) 745-3351.