WKU Spring Commencement Weekend (Including Gatton Academy Graduation) Set For May 15-17

Western Kentucky University will celebrate its 165th Commencement with a weekend of activities May 15-17.

The events include graduate commencement on May 15, the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky’s second graduation on May 16 and two undergraduate commencement ceremonies on May 17.

During the graduate and undergraduate ceremonies at Diddle Arena, WKU will confer degrees to 1,946 students: 92 associate’s, 1,480 baccalaureate, 367 master’s, seven specialists and six recipients of the doctoral degree offered cooperatively by WKU and University of Louisville.

The graduate commencement begins at 7 p.m. May 15 at Diddle Arena and will be followed by a reception in the arena’s Hall of Champions. Kentucky Chief Justice John Minton Jr. will present the John D. Minton Award for outstanding graduate student. The award is named for his late father who was WKU’s fifth president. The ceremony, expected to last approximately 90 minutes, will feature the parade of international flags and the individual hooding of each graduate and will be webcast at http://www.wkusports.tv/.

The Gatton Academy graduation will begin at 10 a.m. May 16 at the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Amphitheatre.
In the event of rain, the ceremony will move to Diddle Arena.

The Gatton Academy will recognize 55 graduates who make up the first group to complete the two-year program. WKU alumnus David Laird, senior vice president for Strategy and Business Development at Jewish Hospital and St. Mary’s HealthCare in Louisville, will deliver the Academy’s graduation address. Class of 2009 members Rachel Bowman of Calloway County and Tyce Hodges of Pulaski County will share remarks as well.

WKU’s undergraduate commencement again will be divided into two ceremonies on May 17 at Diddle Arena. The ceremony for students in Potter College of Arts & Letters, Gordon Ford College of Business, University College and Bowling Green Community College will begin at 1 p.m. The ceremony for College of Health and Human Services, Ogden College of Science and Engineering, and College of Education and Behavioral Sciences will begin at 5 p.m. President Gary Ransdell will deliver remarks at both ceremonies.

Both ceremonies will include the parade of international flags, recognition of honor graduates and the commissioning of Army ROTC graduates as second lieutenants. The WKU Alumni Association will present “WKU Alumni 2009” pins as graduates line up in the arena’s auxiliary gyms.

The 5 p.m. ceremony will include recognition of the Golden Anniversary Club as the Class of 1959 returns to the Hill and recognition of the Ogden Foundation Scholar, WKU’s top academic honor presented to one graduating baccalaureate degree senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and outstanding university and civic engagement.

Both undergraduate ceremonies, expected to last two hours each, will be broadcast live by WKYU-PBS and webcast live at http://www.wkusports.tv.

DVDs of the undergraduate ceremony will be available for $35 each and can be ordered at commencement. Orders after May 17 can be placed at www.wkyupbs.org and inquiries should be made to WKYU-PBS at (800) 599-2424.

The annual spring commencement ceremony recognizes students who will either complete degree requirements at the end of the spring semester or who will complete degree requirements during the summer term.

The schedule for 2009 Spring Commencement Weekend (http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/Registrar/commencement.htm) includes the following:

Friday, May 15
Master of Social Work Pinning Ceremony, 4 p.m. at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium. Reception follows at 6 p.m. at Downing University Center Cupola Room.
Department of Psychology Reception for Graduate Students, 4:30 p.m. at Tate Page Hall Lobby.
Graduate Commencement Ceremony, 7 p.m. at Diddle Arena.

Saturday, May 16
Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky Graduation Ceremony, 10 a.m. at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Amphitheatre.
Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony, noon at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.
Army ROTC Commissioning, 2 p.m. at Kentucky Building.
Outstanding Black Graduates Recognition Ceremony, 6 p.m. at Garrett Conference Center Ballroom.

Sunday, May 17
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, 1 p.m. at Diddle Arena for graduates of Potter College of Arts & Letters, Gordon Ford College of Business, University College and Bowling Green Community College
Nursing Convocation, 2 p.m. at Downing University Center Theatre.
Associate Degree Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 4 p.m. at Downing University Center Theatre.
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, 5 p.m. at Diddle Arena for College of Health and Human Services, Ogden College of Science and Engineering, and College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Registrar’s Office at (270) 745-3351.

For information regarding the Gatton Academy ceremony, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-2971.