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December 4, 2002

Purdue graduates to participate in commencement ceremonies

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will award degrees at two campuses during winter commencement ceremonies.

Ceremonies are scheduled at the West Lafayette campus for 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. Approximately 3,000 students – 2,172 of whom are undergraduates – will earn degrees during the two ceremonies.

Commencement for students at the Purdue Calumet campus will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Radisson Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Ind. Approximately 470 degrees will be awarded.

Purdue President Martin C. Jischke and Phillip A. Waid, president of the Purdue Alumni Association, will address graduates at each West Lafayette ceremony in the Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music. Degrees at the morning ceremony will be awarded to students in the schools of Consumer and Family Sciences, Education, Liberal Arts, Management, Science and Veterinary Medicine. Degrees at the afternoon ceremony will be awarded to students in the schools of Agriculture; Engineering; Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences; and Technology.

The student response during the morning ceremony will be provided by Rukeyser (pronounced Ruk-ey-sha) S. Thompson of Bassfield, Miss. Thompson will receive a doctorate in chemistry. The student response for the afternoon ceremony will be provided by Grant R. Lohse of Carmel, Ind. Lohse will receive a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

An honorary doctorate of education will be presented at the morning ceremony to Marie M. Clay, a Dame Professor Emerita at the University of Aukland in New Zealand. She has served as a consultant for the international implementation of Reading Recovery, an early literacy intervention program.

The 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 is congratulated after receiving their diploma.

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

Commencement videos for each school 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.

CONTACT: Melinda Gardner, assistant registrar for commencement, (765) 494-8219, mgardner@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.

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


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