April 29, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - As Western Kentucky University celebrates its 163rd Commencement this spring, the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU will honor its first graduates.
The Gatton Academy, which opened last fall, will recognize 54 seniors in its inaugural graduation ceremony on May 10. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Amphitheatre; in case of rain, the event will move to Van Meter Auditorium.
The guest speaker for the graduation will be Jim Wiseman, vice president of public affairs for Toyota Motor Manufacturing of North America.
The Gatton Academy is enabling Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment which offers advanced educational opportunities and is preparing Kentucky to compete in a knowledge-based economy by increasing the number of scientists and engineers who live and work in the state.
“Kentucky is the fourteenth state to establish a residential school with a focus on mathematics and science supported by the state,” said Dr. Julia Roberts, executive director of the Gatton Academy. “This inaugural graduating class from the Gatton Academy symbolizes a giant step toward addressing the need to develop top talent in mathematics and science.”
The Gatton Academy graduation is one of several events scheduled for Commencement Weekend on May 9-10 at WKU.
Commencement for students in WKU’s Graduate Studies will begin at 7 p.m. May 9 with two ceremonies for undergraduates at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. May 10. President Gary Ransdell will deliver remarks at all three ceremonies.
In the ceremonies at Diddle Arena, WKU will confer degrees to 1,785 students: 129 associate’s, 1,289 baccalaureate, 358 master’s, six specialist and three recipients of the doctoral degree offered cooperatively by WKU and University of Louisville.
The undergraduate commencement will include recognition of the Ogden Foundation Scholar, an award presented to one graduating baccalaureate degree senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and outstanding university and civic engagement; recognition of honor graduates; and commissioning of Army ROTC graduates as second lieutenants.
The May 10 undergraduate ceremonies will broadcast live on WKYU-PBS with a webcast online at http://www.wkusports.tv while the May 9 graduate ceremony will be webcast only at http://www.wkusports.tv. The May 2007 ceremonies had more than 550 online viewers in nations that included Pakistan, India, China, Turkey, Japan and Iraq.
Here is a list of Commencement Weekend events:
Friday, May 9
4 p.m., Master of Social Work Pinning Ceremony at Downing University Center Theatre.
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 Auditorium.
7 p.m., Graduate Studies Commencement Ceremony at Diddle Arena.
Saturday, May 10
8 a.m., School Of Nursing Convocation at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.
10 a.m., Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony for College of Health and Human Services, Ogden College of Science and Engineering, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Diddle Arena.
11 a.m., Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.
12:30 p.m., Associate Degree Nursing Pinning Ceremony at Downing University Center Theatre.
1 p.m., Army ROTC Commissioning at Kentucky Building.
1 p.m., Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky Graduation Ceremony at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Amphitheatre.
3 p.m., Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony for Potter College of Arts & Letters, Gordon Ford College of Business, University College, Community College at Diddle Arena.
More information about 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) 745-5432.
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