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Ceremonies recognizing the academic and personal accomplishments of Western Illinois University students and alumni will be held Friday-Saturday, May 9-10 in Macomb and Sunday, May 11 in the Quad Cities during Western Illinois' 2014 Spring Commencement Weekend.
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Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Commencement, Sunday, May 11, iWireless Center, Moline, IL

  • Noon Academic Honors Convocation
  • 1 p.m. Combined Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement

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WIU Commencement Weekend May 9-11

April 29, 2014

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - Ceremonies recognizing the academic and personal accomplishments of Western Illinois University students and alumni will be held Friday-Saturday, May 9-10 in Macomb and Sunday, May 11 in the Quad Cities during Western Illinois' 2014 Spring Commencement Weekend.

The number of students eligible to participate in Spring 2014 Commencement Ceremonies is 2,389 students, which includes nearly 1,909 undergraduate students, of which 149 students are in the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program (formerly the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts degree program), as well as 480 master's-level graduate students and two students earning their doctorate degrees in educational leadership (Ed.D.): Christy L. Hopper (Galena, IL) and Teri L. Shaw (Morris, IL).

Honorary Doctorate
Sandra Keiser Edwards, deputy director of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR) will receive the Western Illinois University Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at Western's Spring 2014 Commencement exercises at the 9 a.m. Saturday, May 10 ceremony.

The Honorary Doctorate is the highest award Western Illinois University can bestow upon an individual who has made significant contributions to his/her career and to Western Illinois University.

Keiser Edwards, a 1974 college student personnel master's degree graduate, has been a key member of the Crystal Bridges leadership team since 2007, overseeing the founding of the museum, as well as its construction and successful opening in November 2011. Since that time, the museum has welcomed more than 1.2 million visitors, with Keiser Edwards serving in the pivotal role of deputy director. Keiser Edwards continues to be a guiding force in establishing the institution, creating and growing connections to bring increased tourism to the area, as well as offering museum visitors unparalleled arts, cultural and educational experiences.

For more information, see the April 21 release, "Edwards to Receive Honorary Doctorate," at www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=11597.

Distinguished Alumni
Richard P. Lavin, president and chief executive officer of the Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) Inc., (New Albany, OH), will receive Western Illinois' Distinguished Alumni Award at the Spring 2014 Commencement exercises. He will be recognized at the 1 p.m. Saturday, May 10 ceremony.

Lavin, a 1976 sociology graduate, was appointed to his post at Commercial Vehicle Group in May 2013, following a successful 28-year career with Caterpillar, Inc. In addition to serving as president and CEO at CVG, which makes cab products and systems for commercial trucks and heavy-duty vehicles and machines, Lavin is a member of the company's Board of Directors.

During his career at Caterpillar, Lavin served as the group president of construction industries and growth markets, with responsibility for Caterpillar's earthmoving, excavation and building construction products divisions and the deployment of business strategies in China, India and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region. He also had development and deployment responsibility for the company's business in Japan and for construction machinery manufacturing operations in Asia, the Americas and Europe.

For more information about Lavin, see the April 8 news release, "Lavin: 2014 Distinguished Alumnus," at www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=11557.

Macomb Honors, Commissioning and Commencement Ceremonies

Provost Ken Hawkinson will serve as master of ceremonies for each ceremony. Greetings will be given by Cathy Early, chair of the Board of Trustees, and President Jack Thomas will present remarks, "Graduates of Purple and Gold: Great Thinkers, Game Changers and Generous People," to each graduating class. WIU's Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, Western Illinois University Professor of Sociology David Rohall, will be recognized at each ceremony. The Western Illinois University Wind Ensemble, under the baton of Director of Bands Mike Fansler, will play for the Macomb ceremonies.

Events scheduled for Friday, May 9 include the following:

  • 2 p.m. Academic Honors Convocation, Western Hall — College, Honors and Departmental Scholars and students with academic distinction based on grade point average (GPA) receive a medallion for each academic honor. Graduating senior Samantha Elizabeth Morrow (Rushville, IL) is the convocation speaker and will deliver her speech, "Lollipop Moments." National anthem singer: Isaac Jankowski (Clinton, IA), Bachelor of Fine Arts, Class of 2014.
  • 4 p.m. Army ROTC Commissioning, University Union Heritage Room — 17 Army ROTC cadets who have completed requirements will be commissioned to active or reserve duty as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.
  • 5:30 p.m. Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony, Western Hall — Graduates earning specialist's and master's degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Technology, College of Education and Human Services and the College of Fine Arts and Communication will receive their graduate hoods. National anthem singer: Emily Elizabeth Rhein (Des Moines, IA), Bachelor of Fine Arts, Class of 2014.

Saturday, May 10 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies in Western Hall

To find the list of majors by college, go to wiu.edu/commencement/majors.php.

9 a.m. ceremony will recognize graduates in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) and the College of Business and Technology (CBT). An Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters will be presented to Sandra Keiser Edwards '74. National anthem singer: Jordan Christopher DePatis (Petersburg, IL), Bachelor of Music, Class of 2014.

Marshals, who are graduating seniors selected from the top scholars earning high academic distinction, guide the graduating class, faculty and stage party from the processional to the recessional. They are: Danielle Lynne Balbach (Lena, IL), accounting major; Amy Arlene Broadbent (Lansing, IL), music major; Flint Michael Chiovari (Brookfield, IL), economics major; Brooke Ann Hammond (Wapello, IA), supply chain management major; Sarah Le'Jeune (La Harpe, IL), agriculture major; Caleb John Markey (Macomb, IL), finance/accounting major; Daniel J. Mitchell (Colchester, IL), agriculture major; and Jordan Jeanine Spaciel (New London, WI), music major.

1 p.m. ceremony will recognize graduates in the College of Education and Human Services (COEHS). National anthem singer: Barbara Brewer (Kankakee, IL), Bachelor of Music, Class of 2014.

Marshals are: Brittney Edwards (Macomb, IL), elementary education major; Alexandria Hamm (Macomb, IL), special education major; Kathleen S. Holte (Hanover Park, IL), social work major; Chelsea Yvonne Lynes (Woodstock, Ontario, Canada), exercise science major; Trevor D. Paulsen (Addison, IL), exercise science major; Alli Kristine Reed (Chillicothe, IL), law enforcement and justice administration major; Danielle M. Sausaman (Springfield, IL), dietetics major; and Cody A. Stults (Sugar Grove, IL), law enforcement and justice administration major/philosophy major.

4:30 p.m. ceremony will recognize candidates for graduation in the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (BGS), the Interdisciplinary Studies Program and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). National anthem singer: James Lee Christian, Jr., (Davenport, IA), Bachelor of Music, Class of 2014.

Marshals are: Abby Beck (Macomb, IL), sociology major; Tiffany L. Beckman (Mapleton, IL), psychology major; Mackenzie Louise Gray (Blue Grass, IA), chemistry major; Anna Rebecca Henricson (Lidingo, Sweden), general studies major; Stephanie Marion Jacobs (Prophetstown, IL), psychology major; Samantha Elizabeth Morrow (Rushville, IL), history major; Jennifer Jane Rabchuk (Macomb, IL), nursing major; and Angela Jean Todd (Stevens Point, WI), nursing major.

Sunday, May 11 Quad Cities – Honors and Combined Ceremonies, iWireless Center, Moline

Provost Ken Hawkinson will serve as master of ceremonies. Joseph Rives, vice president for Quad Cities and planning, will provide a welcome, and greetings will be given by Carolyn Ehlert Fuller from the Board of Trustees. President Jack Thomas will present remarks, "Graduates of Purple and Gold: Great Thinkers, Game Changers and Generous People."

  • Noon Academic Honors Convocation
  • 1 p.m. Combined Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement

Marshals are: Abby Beck (Macomb, IL), sociology major; Tiffany L. Beckman (Mapleton, IL), psychology major; Mackenzie Louise Gray (Blue Grass, IA), chemistry major; Anna Rebecca Henricson (Lidingo, Sweden), general studies major; Stephanie Marion Jacobs (Prophetstown, IL), psychology major; Samantha Elizabeth Morrow (Rushville, IL), history major; Jennifer Jane Rabchuk (Macomb, IL), nursing major; and Angela Jean Todd (Stevens Point, WI), nursing major.

Western's Brass Ensemble, under the direction of School of Music Professor Randall Faust, will play at the Quad Cities ceremony. Members include: Seth Brown (Pontiac, IL), music education major, tenor tuba; David Hellyer (Millington, IL), music education major, trumpet; Demetrio Lyle (Colona, IL), music performance major, trumpet Mark Malvesti (Rockford, IL), music performance major, horn; Armando Mejia (Macomb, IL), music performance major, trombone; and Kimberly Truemper (Naperville, IL), music major, bass tuba.

Flags

The flags of 26 nations representing the Spring 2014 graduating class will be displayed on the stage. Sponsored by Western's Center for International Studies, the flags represent the following countries: Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America and Venezuela.

Gonfalons and Gonfaloniers

Gonfalons, which are banners hung from a crossbar on poles, made their inaugural appearance in the Fall 2009 Commencement ceremonies. Western Illinois University gonfalons are for the School of Graduate Studies, as well as for each of the four academic colleges: Arts and Sciences (white); Business and Technology (royal blue); Education and Human Services (UN blue); and Fine Arts and Communication (spice brown). Those who are chosen to carry the gonfalons are called gonfaloniers. This honor has been awarded to the faculty members listed below.

At WIU-Macomb
The WIU gonfalon will be carried at each ceremony by James Kenny, professor, marketing, College of Business and Technology.

Friday, May 9
5:30 p.m. – William Polley, associate professor, economics and decision sciences, Graduate School

Saturday, May 10
9 a.m. — Bree McEwan, assistant professor, communication, College of Fine Arts and Communication; and In Lee, professor, computer science, College of Business and Technology

1 p.m. — Kimberly Dodson, assistant professor, law enforcement and justice administration, College of Education and Human Services

4:30 p.m. — David Lane, professor, psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

At WIU-QC, 1 p.m. Sunday, May 11

Kristi Mindrup, assistant vice president, Quad Cities and planning, WIU gonfalon

Scott Brouette, assistant director, Quad Cities Student Services, Graduate School

Tammy Werner, assistant professor, sociology and anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences

Mary Hogg, associate professor, communication, College of Fine Arts and Communication

Joan Baril, instructor, management and marketing, College of Business and Technology

Leslie O'Ryan, professor, counselor education, College of Education & Human Services

Live Broadcast/Web Stream

Western's University Television (UTV) will broadcast the Academic Honors Convocation and all Macomb Commencement ceremonies live on Macomb's Cable Channel 3. The Macomb ceremonies will also be streamed live on the web. A link to the web broadcast will be available from Western's homepage at wiu.edu during the time of the ceremonies.

DVDs and Photos

DVDs of the Macomb and Quad Cities ceremonies may be purchased through UTV at (309) 298-1880. Photographs of each graduate will be taken as they receive their diploma cover. Proof sheets will be mailed from Western's Visual Production Center to each graduate, with instructions for ordering photos.

Open Ceremonies; ADA Requests

Ceremonies are open to family and friends of the graduates. Tickets are not required; seating is on a first come basis. Doors open 90 minutes before each ceremony. An interpreter will sign each ceremony and assistive listening devices will be available to the public at the information table in the north lobby of Western Hall. There are a limited number of disability seats, and individuals in need of special accommodations for the ceremonies should contact Western's Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 298-1977. Office hours are 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Individuals needing special accommodations for the Quad Cities ceremony should contact Chris Brown at WIU-Quad Cities at (309) 762-9481, ext. 62287, or email MC-Brown2@wiu.edu. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing