Newswise — University of Arizona students who have completed graduation requirements as of May 2004 will receive degrees Saturday, May 15 at two ceremonies at McKale Center during the UA's 130th Commencement.
UA President Peter Likins will confer degrees upon 3620 undergraduates; 855 masters; 233 doctoral and 13 specialists degree candidates. Additionally, 103 medical degrees, 46 Pharmacy Degrees and 149 Juris Doctor degrees will be conferred. Ten Master of Laws degrees in Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy along with 12 Master of Laws degrees in International Trade Law will be awarded.
The academic procession into McKale for the morning ceremony begins at 9 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.
University of Arizona graduate and former NBA star Steve Kerr will address both sessions of Commencement.
Press photographers should note: Platforms will be located on the floor of McKale to facilitate video and still photographers. You may photograph from anywhere inside McKale until the ceremonies begin. Photographers shall then clear the floor aisles and use the platforms or remain in the corners.
An academic tradition added to the UA's Commencement ceremony last December is that of the ceremonial or academic mace. The mace reflects the unique character, mission and values of the UA. During academic ceremonies, such as Commencement, the mace is carried by the chair of the faculty and signifies the order and authority of the academic procession. The placing of the mace in its stand marks the beginning of the ceremony and its removal signifies the end of the platform ceremony.
In Medieval times, maces were used in combat. By the 16th century, maces took on the elegance of silver, gold and precious stones and were incorporated into academic and civil ceremonies. The UA mace features a crown of sterling silver surrounding the seal of the University, which is accented with 22K gold. Underlying the crown are 24 acrylic strips in the school colors of red and blue which add a jewel-like sparkle. The main shaft is made of local mesquite with a sterling silver band inscribed with "The University of Arizona," accented with 22K gold. The tailpiece repeats the motif of the crown and surrounds a medallion with an image of a Wildcat, the UA mascot.
Awards:The Alumni Achievement Award will be presented to Steve Kerr during the morning ceremony and to Terry J. Lundgren during the afternoon ceremony.
Steve Kerr's courage and skill made him a key player on the UA's first basketball team to win the school's first Pac-10 title for the 1985-1986 season. He was the starting point guard on the first UA basketball team to advance to the NCAA Final Four. Kerr's professional career has been exemplary, as well. He's played for the Phoenix Suns, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic, the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs.
He is only the second player in NBA history to win two championships with two different teams in consecutive seasons. Entering the 2002-2003 season, Kerr owned the highest career three-point, field-goal percentage in the NBA.
Terry J. Lundgren graduated from the UA in 1975 and immediately began his successful career in retailing. He is presently the chair and chief executive officer of Federated Department Stores. Federated Department Stores is the leading department store retailer in the United States with more than 400 stores and a growing mail order, Internet and direct-to-customer business. Lundgren's varied executive positions in retailing include having served as president and chief executive officer of Neiman Marcus. He is considered one of the most powerful leaders in the fashion industry. Over the years, Lundgren has given generously of his time and financial resources to the College of Agriculture and Life SciencesSouthwest Retail Center for Education and Research.
Honorary Degrees:Vance Coffman will be presented for an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Joaquin Ruiz, dean of the College of Science during the morning ceremony. Coffman led the engineering teams that designed and built the Hubble Space Telescope. Presently, Coffman is the chairman and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The UA and Lockheed Martin have collaborated extensively on numerous science and engineering projects.
Sol Nudelman will be presented for an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Keith A. Joiner, dean of the College of Medicine at the afternoon ceremony. Formerly at the UA as a professor in the department of radiology and in optical sciences, Nudelman developed the technology used for the application of computers to radiology. He and his team helped bring the concept of digital radiology into reality and practice, especially in critical procedures such as angiography.
Roger Shepard will be presented for an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Edward Donnerstein, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences during the afternoon ceremony. Shepard has been one of the major names associated with cognitive science in the past 50 years. His contributions to the field were recognized by a National Medal of Science, the highest tribute the United States can pay to a scientist. Presently, Shepard is a resident at Tucson's Arizona Senior Academy and is emeritus professor of psychology at Stanford University.
Ruth "Bazy" Tankersley will be presented for an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by Donnerstein and by Eugene G. Sander, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the afternoon ceremony. Tankersley is a giant in the equine industry, who, with her business acumen and hard work, has carved a niche as the second most prolific Arabian horse breeder in the world. She has been a strong and generous supporter of the UA's journalism department and of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, to the Southwest Center and to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Student Awards:Robie Medals will be presented to Christopher M. Cabello and to Rachel Louise Wellhausen. Qualifications for this award include personal integrity, initiative, enthusiasm, humility, well-rounded interests, active participation in student affairs and service to the university. Both students will receive their awards during the morning ceremony.
Cabello is graduating with two Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology from the College of Science. Throughout his undergraduate career, Cabello has focused his energy on mentoring students on the importance of science and mathematics. He volunteers his time as a tutor at Mansfeld Middle School and Desert Vista High School. He has also participated in several summer research programs and has won national fellowships such as the Research Fellow for the Pfizer Organic Chemistry Diversity Initiative and the National Institutes of Health Minority Access to Research Careers Program.
Wellhausen is graduating with honors with three Bachelor of Arts degrees. Her degrees are in economics from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences; honors English from the College of Humanities and interdisciplinary studies in Russian and Slavic studies, German studies and political science from University College. She has studied at the Irkutsk State Technical University in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia and as a United States National Security Education Program Boren Scholar. She has served as a volunteer with Alternative Spring Break on campus and has helped found an organization that helps fight youth homelessness.
Freeman Medals will be presented to Jonathan V. Gandomi and to Nita Umashankar. Qualifications for this award includes moral force of character, receipt of athletic awards, and membership in organizations and service on committees in a leadership capacity.
Gandomi will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in inter-disciplinary studies from University College. He has been involved in many organizations including Beyond Tolerance, a campus group that discusses issues of prejudice and racial tension. Gandomi has travelled to Russia, Kazakhstan, Peru and Ecuador with the Generation of Hope Service Project. He has used what he has learned through his studies to work on his Russian language skills while studying transition economics in Kazakhstan. Gandomi will receive his award during the afternoon ceremony.
Umashankar will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and entrepreneurship from the Eller College of Business and Public Administration. Having already earned a Bachelor of Science in molecular and cellular biology, Umashankar continued her pursuit of higher education by majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship. Upon graduation, she will travel to India and work for a non-profit organization for which she will design a pilot project and work personally with mentally and physically abused women to provide them with the necessary skills to obtain education and/or employment. Umashankar will received her award during the morning ceremony.
Nugent Awards will be presented to Angela Kebric and to Jason Alan Chang. Qualifications for these awards include a record of accomplishments such as active and enthusiastic participation and service in the community and in the University.
Kebric will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Kebric's major contributions to the UA community have been through leadership, academics and athletics. She has maintained a grade point average of 4.0 and currently tutors athletes as a member of the CATS Peer Tutoring program. She has served as president of the Chi Omega Sorority and has worked as a UA football recruiting hostess. Kebric will receive her award during the afternoon ceremony.
Chang will graduate with two Bachelor of Science degrees from the College of Engineering. One degree is in mechanical engineering and the other in biosystems engineering. While at the UA, Chang has served as a volunteer at food banks, he's painted playground equipment and raised funds for various community health causes. He's also served as president of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honorary and has tutored first and second year engineering and science students. Chang will receive his award during the morning ceremony.
Colleges graduating at the morning ceremony include:
College of Architecture and Landscape ArchitectureCollege of EducationCollege of Engineering and MinesCollege of HumanitiesCollege of ScienceEller College of Business and Public AdministrationJames E. Rogers College of LawGraduate College (advanced degrees associated with the above colleges)
Colleges graduating at the afternoon ceremony include:
Arizona International CollegeCollege of Agriculture and Life SciencesCollege of Fine ArtsCollege of MedicineCollege of NursingCollege of PharmacyCollege of Public HealthCollege of Social and Behavioral SciencesUniversity SchoolGraduate College (advanced degrees associated with the above colleges andall interdisciplinary master's degrees)
Related Web sitehttp://w3.arizona.edu/~dos/commencement/index.html
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