Purdue to award degrees in winter commencements

Ceremonies for the West Lafayette campus are scheduled at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the Elliott Hall of Music. Ceremonies for the Calumet campus will take place at 6 p.m. CST in the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Ind. Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will address graduates during the ceremonies at both campuses.

There are 2,872 students who are candidates for degrees at the West Lafayette campus — 2,019 are undergraduates, 852 are graduate students and one is a professional candidate. At the Calumet campus, 489 students are candidates for degrees.

The 9:30 a.m. ceremony will be for students in agriculture, consumer and family sciences, education, management and technology. Degrees in engineering; liberal arts; pharmacy, nursing and health sciences; veterinary medicine; and science will be awarded in the afternoon.

Joseph Duchamp of Pitcairn, Pa., who will receive a doctorate degree in forestry and natural resources, will provide the student response during the morning ceremony. Eleanor Edie Hattery, who will receive a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, will provide the student response during the afternoon ceremony. Marisol Edmond of Merrillville, Ind., who will receive a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance, will provide the student response at the Calumet commencement.

Deborah E. McDowell, a named professor at the University of Virginia, will receive an honorary doctorate from the College of Liberal Arts during the afternoon ceremony on the West Lafayette campus. She is an author and scholar in the field of African-American literature. McDowell of Charlottesville, Va., received her master's degree in American literature in 1974 and her doctorate degree in American/Afro-American literature in 1979, both from Purdue.

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 graduates as they receive their diplomas.

Tickets, issued to graduation participants for family and friends, are required for admission. Doors will open 90 minutes before each ceremony.

Candidates requiring special assistance to participate in the West Lafayette commencement exercise should contact Abby Bryant, assistant registrar, at (765) 494-8219, bryantah@purdue.edu.

West Lafayette commencement DVDs for each school will be available for purchase by contacting the Elliott Hall of Music Box Office at (765) 494-3933.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Sources: Christine L. Leasure, assistant registrar, (765) 494-6163, clleasure@purdue.edu

Abby Bryant, assistant registrar, (765) 494-8219, bryantah@purdue.edu

Mary Martinez, graduation coordinator at Purdue Calumet, (219) 989-2315, martinem@calumet.purdue.edu

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

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