December 3, 2004
Purdue to award degrees in winter commencements
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will award degrees at two campuses in December.
Ceremonies are scheduled for the West Lafayette campus at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19, in the Elliott Hall of Music. Purdue Calumet will conduct commencement ceremonies at 6 p.m. (CST) Tuesday, Dec. 21, in the Radisson Star Theatre, Merrillville.
Purdue President Martin C. Jischke and Tamara E. Morse, president of the Purdue Alumni Association, will address graduates during the West Lafayette ceremonies. Jischke also will speak at the Merrillville ceremony, along with Purdue Calumet Chancellor Howard Cohen.
In West Lafayette, there are 3,055 candidates – 2,258 of whom are undergraduates – for degrees for the fall semester. At Purdue Calumet, there are 550 candidates for degrees ranging from associate's to master's degrees.
The morning ceremony in West Lafayette will be for students in consumer and family sciences, education, liberal arts, management, science and veterinary medicine. Degrees at the afternoon ceremony will be awarded to students in agriculture, engineering, pharmacy, nursing and health sciences and technology.
Laurin E. Brey, Dixon, Ill., who will receive a bachelor of arts degree, will provide the student response during the morning ceremony in West Lafayette. Timothy S. Healy Jr., Kings Mills, Ohio, who will receive a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, will provide the student response for the afternoon ceremony.
At Purdue Calumet, Sky Holman, Hammond, Ind., who will receive a bachelor's degree with a double major in psychology and sociology, will provide the student response.
An honorary doctorate of science will be presented at West Lafayette's morning ceremony to Herman Cain, who earned his master's degree in computer science from Purdue in 1971. Cain is chief executive officer of T.H.E. Inc., a leadership and solutions company specializing in keynote speaking and publications on the topics of leadership, business and motivation. Cain is a director of numerous global corporations and serves on several philanthropic boards.
The West Lafayette commencement ceremonies will feature two large video screens above the Hall of Music stage. The screen will display a close-up image of each graduate as he or she receives a diploma.
Tickets, issued to graduation participants for family and friends, are required for admission. The doors will open 90 minutes prior to each ceremony.
Candidates requiring special assistance to participate in the West Lafayette commencement exercise should contact Melinda Gardner at (765) 494-8219, mgardner@purdue.edu, as soon as possible to make arrangements.
Commencement videos for each school in West Lafayette will be available to new graduates, their families and friends. The video costs $25 plus $5 postage and handling. Order forms are available at Purdue box offices and will be available from hall ushers at the ceremonies. The Hall of Music box office will accept order forms before and after each commencement ceremony.
Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu
Sources: Melinda Gardner, (765) 494-8219, mgardner@purdue.edu
Wes Lukoshus, Purdue Calumet contact, (219) 989-2217, lukoshus@calumet.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Journalists who want to cover commencement at the West Lafayette campus will need tickets and should reserve space for camera equipment. Arrangements can be made by calling Jesica Webb at the Purdue News Service at (765) 494-2079, jwebb@purdue.edu.
Related Web sites:
Office of the Registrar
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