December 8, 2005

Purdue to award degrees in winter commencements

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will award degrees at its West Lafayette campus Dec. 18 and at its Calumet campus Dec. 20.

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 be held 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 2,942 students who are candidates for degrees at the West Lafayette campus – 2,135 are undergraduates, 800 are graduate students and seven are professional candidates. At the Calumet campus, 667 students are candidates for degrees.

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

Jennifer Lindsey Dayton of Indianapolis, who will receive a bachelor of science degree in audiology and speech science and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, will provide the student response during the morning ceremony. Young Kyu Lee of South Brunswick, N.J., who will receive a bachelor of science degree from the School of Management, will provide the student response during the afternoon ceremony. Huma Farook of Skokie, Ill., who will receive a bachelor of arts degree in sociology, will provide the student response at the Calumet commencement.

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. The doors will open 90 minutes before each ceremony.

Candidates requiring special assistance to participate in the West Lafayette commencement exercise should contact Abby Bryant at (765) 494-8219, bryantah@purdue.edu, to make arrangements. If any guests need special assistance, they should contact Jean Stewart at (765) 494-6159.

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. The DVDs cost $30 and need to be ordered within two weeks following the ceremony.

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

Sources: Abby Bryant, assistant registrar for academic programs, commencement and departmental projects, (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

Note to Journalists: Members of the media planning to cover West Lafayette commencement ceremonies will need tickets to attend. For tickets, contact Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

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