About 3,700 students will receive diplomas from the University of Colorado at Boulder on Friday, May 15, in outdoor commencement exercises at Folsom Stadium.
Of the 3,733 degrees to be awarded, 2,722 will be bachelor聮s degrees, 686 will be master聮s degrees, 168 will be doctoral degrees and 157 will be law degrees.
Thirty-nine students will receive double degrees, including five who are the campus聮 first graduates to receive combined bachelor聮s/master聮s degrees. CU-Boulder now offers combined degrees in 11 program areas in three schools and colleges, with six more in the planning stages. The combined degree option allows students to obtain a master聮s degree in just five years.
The university commencement ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. following the traditional procession of faculty and students from Norlin Quadrangle. The procession, led by Dean of Libraries James Williams, the commencement marshal, will leave the quadrangle at 9 a.m. About 75 members of the Class of 1948, who will celebrate their 50th and Golden Anniversary commencement weekend, will participate.
Distinguished CU-Boulder Professor of Chemistry and Nobel laureate Thomas Cech will give the commencement address.
Commencement is free and open to the public with no reserved seating or tickets required. Family and friends of the graduates are urged to arrive early to find the best parking and seating.
The exercises will be at Folsom Stadium regardless of the weather. Graduating students and guests are asked to check the morning forecast and prepare accordingly. In case of rain, the procession will be canceled and the ceremony abbreviated. The program is expected to end before 11 a.m.
Honorary degrees will be presented to Gregory A. Kimble, an international leader in the field of psychology and former chair of the Department of Psychology at CU-Boulder, and Irving S. Reed, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Southern California and leader in the field of digital communications.
The Chancellor聮s Recognition Award for students receiving all A聮s in their college careers will be given to Stacey Leigh Smith of Littleton, who will receive a bachelor聮s degree in history, and Courtney Risa Meltzer of Englewood, who will receive a bachelor聮s in business administration. Smith also has been named outstanding graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Meltzer is outstanding graduate of the College of Business and Administration.
The outstanding graduates named by the other schools and colleges are Michelle Denise Burch of Steamboat Springs, College of Architecture and Planning; Kendra Kristine Feinstein of Louisville, School of Education; Brian Frank Cooper of Aurora, College of Engineering and Applied Science; Adam McLen Lowrey of Pueblo, School of Journalism and Mass Communication; and Erika Lea Juengst of Windsor, College of Music.
Juengst and her husband, Phillip Ryan Juengst, who will receive double bachelor聮s degrees in music and political science, will be the vocalists.
Processional and recessional music will be provided by the University Commencement Band, conducted by Thomas Caneva.
Students will enter the stadium from the south and sit in the horseshoe end. Guests should plan to be seated by 9:15 a.m. because the south gates will be closed before the processional and reopened once the students are seated. About 20,000 visitors and graduates are expected to attend.
CU President John C. Buechner will read the traditional Norlin Charge to the graduates. The words, from a speech by former CU President George Norlin to the graduating class of 1935, conclude CU-Boulder聮s three annual commencements.
University of Colorado at Boulder
Special Recognition Ceremonies
In addition to the university commencement ceremony at Folsom Stadium on May 15, graduates and their friends and families are invited to attend special recognition ceremonies organized by the schools and colleges.
Following is a schedule of special events to be held by the schools and colleges, which also are open to the public:
o Architecture and Planning -- Recognition ceremony for architecture and planning graduates, with architect Jacques Calman Brownson speaking, May 14, 3 p.m., Duane Physics room G-030, 492-7711.
o Arts and Sciences -- All departments will host recognition ceremonies for their graduates. Contact individual departments for information.
o Business and Administration -- Recognition ceremony for business graduates, with speaker Kenneth Tuckman, founder, chairman and CEO of Teletech, Inc., May 14, 5 p.m., Coors Events/Conference Center, 492-1809.
o Education -- Recognition ceremony and reception for education graduates, with former CU law dean Gene Nichol speaking, May 14, 4-6 p.m., Regal Harvest House, 492-2559.
o Engineering and Applied Science -- Recognition ceremony for engineering graduates, with speaker George Sissell, chairman and CEO of Ball Corp., May 14, 7 p.m., Macky Auditorium, 492-7462.
o Graduate School -- Recognition ceremony and luncheon for doctoral graduates, May 15, noon-1:30 p.m., Fiske Planetarium, 492-7401.
o Journalism and Mass Communication -- Recognition ceremony for journalism graduates, with speaker Kevin Corke, Channel 9 sports anchor and CU alumnus, May 14, 3 p.m., Macky Auditorium, 492-4364.
o Law -- Recognition ceremony for law graduates, with Gov. Roy Romer speaking, May 15, 2 p.m., Macky Auditorium. Reception to follow in Norlin Quadrangle, 492-3084.
o Music -- Recognition ceremony for music graduates, with CU Professor Emeritus Storm Bull speaking, May 14, 3 p.m., Grusin Music Hall, 492-7505.