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July 25, 2003

More than 1,200 Purdue students to graduate at summer ceremony

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – More than 1,200 Purdue University students will be eligible to receive degrees during commencement at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, in the Elliott Hall of Music.

Melinda Gardner, assistant registrar, said 522 students will be eligible for undergraduate degrees, and 689 other students will qualify for graduate degrees.

Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will be the commencement speaker, and Purdue Alumni Association President-elect Tamara Morse also will address the new graduates. Sarah E. Pence of Hope, Ind., will give the student response. Pence will earn a bachelor's degree from the School of Agriculture.

Anna Pao Sohmen, who is currently involved with several companies and community projects throughout China and is a business and political leader and a patron of the arts, will be presented with an honorary doctorate of letters from the School of Liberal Arts. Sohmen, of Hong Kong, graduated from Purdue with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts in 1966 and was a member of University Choir.

Music for the ceremony will be presented by the Commencement Band, along with an ensemble of Purduette and Glee Club members from Purdue Musical Organizations.

This will be the 190th commencement ceremony at Purdue. The university has been recognizing summer graduates at the West Lafayette campus every year since 1984.

CONTACT: Melinda Gardner, (765) 494-8219, mgardner@purdue.edu.

 

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Journalists who want to cover commencement at the West Lafayette campus will need tickets for the event and should reserve space for camera equipment. Arrangements can be made by calling Jesica Webb, Purdue News Service, at (765) 494-2079, jwebb@purdue.edu.

 

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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