December 2, 2008

Purdue to award degrees in winter commencements

Ceremonies for the West Lafayette campus are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Elliott Hall of Music. The Calumet campus ceremony will be at 6 p.m. in the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Ind.

Russell L. Nichols of Brownsburg, Ind., president emeritus of Hanover (Ind.) College, will receive an honorary doctorate of education. Nichols, who is currently serving as interim president of Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn., became Hanover's president in 1987. He received his bachelor's degree from Wabash College in 1963 and his master's and doctorate degrees from Purdue in 1967 and 1975, respectively.

Purdue President France A. Córdova will address graduates during the West Lafayette ceremonies. Chancellor Howard Cohen will speak at the Calumet ceremony.

There are 2,749 students who are candidates for degrees at the West Lafayette campus, of which 1,919 are undergraduates, 823 are graduate students and seven are professional candidates. At the Calumet campus, 651 students are candidates for degrees, of which 64 will receive associate degrees, 430 will receive bachelor's degrees and 157 will receive master's degrees.

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

Kelli Lynn Crubaugh of Fort Wayne, Ind., who will receive a bachelor's degree from the College of Consumer and Family Sciences, will provide the student response during the morning ceremony. Ryan James Crane of Exeter, Maine, who will receive a bachelor's degree from the College of Agriculture, will provide the student response during the afternoon ceremony. Sarah Marie Parrish of Cedar Lake, Ind., who will receive a bachelor's degree in biology technology, will provide the student response at the Calumet commencement.

The West Lafayette ceremonies will feature two large video screens above the Hall of Music stage. The screens will display a close-up image of graduates as they receive their diplomas. The ceremonies also will be shown live via Webcast at mms://video.dis.purdue.edu/graduation. Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded for free, is required for viewing the Webcast.

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 Chris Pass, assistant registrar, at (765) 494-6163, dehahn@purdue.edu.

Commencement videos will be available. A DVD costs $30, and order forms are available at Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse box office or by calling (765) 494-3933. Order forms can be submitted both before and after the ceremony.

For more information, call (765) 494-6157 or e-mail commencement@purdue.edu.

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

Sources: Chris DeHahn Pass, assistant registrar, (765) 494-6163, dehahn@purdue.edu

Mary Martinez, Purdue Calumet graduation coordinator, (219) 989-2210, martinem@calumet.purdue.edu

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

Note to Journalists: Journalists planning to cover West Lafayette commencement ceremonies will need tickets to attend. For tickets, contact Christy Jones, Purdue News Service, at (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

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