University News
WIU Commencement Weekend May 13-14 in Macomb, May 15 in Quad Cities
May 2, 2005
MACOMB, IL - - Ceremonies recognizing the academic and personal accomplishments of Western Illinois University students and alumni will be held Friday and Saturday, May 13-14 in Macomb and Sunday, May 15 in the Quad Cities during Westerns Spring 2005 Commencement weekend.
Events scheduled for Friday, May 13 include the 2 p.m. Academic Honors Convocation in Western Hall; the 4 p.m. military science department Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Commissioning in the University Union Heritage Room; and the 5:30 p.m. Graduate Commencement Exercises in Western Hall.
More than 2,100 students who have applied for graduation in Spring 2005 and Summer 2005 are eligible to participate in the weekend ceremonies. This includes more than 1,600 undergraduate students and nearly 500 graduate students who are eligible to be recognized.
Three Commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 14 in Western Hall for undergraduate students. Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented in the 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ceremonies.
The 9 a.m. ceremony will recognize candidates for graduation in the College of Business and Technology, the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT/BA) degree program and the Individual Studies program. A Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to Michael P. Kelly, a 1970 accountancy graduate, who is the vice chair and senior managing director of the Silicon Valley office of Broadview International, a division of Jefferies, a global investment bank and institutional securities firm. He received the WIU College of Business and Technology Distinguished Alumni Award in 1990 and was a member of the 1965-69 Leathernecks football teams and the 1966-67 Leathernecks baseball team. Kelly will offer brief remarks to the graduates.
The 1 p.m. ceremony will recognize candidates for graduation in the College of Education and Human Services.
The 4 p.m. ceremony will recognize candidates for graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Fine Arts and Communication. A Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to Zack Stamp, a 1975 political science graduate, who is the principal partner in the law firm of Zack Stamp, Ltd., which focuses on representing clients with interests before the Illinois General Assembly and Illinois Department of Insurance. Stamp served Western as the Board of Trustees chair from July 2002 through January 2004. He has been a member of the Western Illinois University Alumni Council and was a co-chair of Westerns Centennial Campaign. In 1989, he received the Western Illinois University Alumni Achievement Award. Stamp will offer brief remarks to the graduates.
The second annual combined Graduate/Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony for Quad Cities-area students will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15 at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline.
Western Illinois Provost and Academic Vice President Joseph Rallo will lead each Commencement ceremony, and President Al Goldfarb will confer degrees and make remarks to the graduating classes. Members of Westerns Board of Trustees also will participate in each Commencement Weekend ceremony.
Members of Westerns music department will provide the musical prelude, processional and recessional at each commencement ceremony. College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean Paul Kreider, an operatic baritone, will sing the National Anthem at each ceremony. The Western Illinois University Wind Ensemble, conducted by retiring music Professor Jon Dugle, will play at each Macomb commencement ceremony. A Student Brass Quintet will play at the Quad Cities ceremony. Quintet members include Matt Shefcik (graduate student, Chicago) and George Hufnagl (senior, Alsip, IL) on trumpet; Kirsten Boyd (graduate student, Champaign, IL) on horn; Dan Tripp (sophomore, Sandwich, IL) on trombone; and David Rappenecker (sophomore, Burlington, IA) on tuba.
Westerns University Television (UTV) will broadcast the Academic Honors Convocation and all Commencement ceremonies live on Macombs cable Channel 3. The ceremonies will also be streamed live on the web. A link to the web broadcast will be available from Westerns homepage at www.wiu.edu during the time of the ceremonies.
DVDs and tapes of the ceremonies may be purchased through UTV, telephone 309/298-1880.
Ceremonies are open to family and friends of the graduates. Tickets are not required; seating is on a first-come basis. A sign interpreter will sign each ceremony. Individuals needing special accommodations should contact Westerns Affirmative Action/ADA Compliance Office, telephone 309/298-1977. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Distinguished Alumni Awards Recipients
Commencement Information
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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