UA Commencement Ceremonies May 10 and 11

Akron, Ohio, May 1, 2008 — The University of Akron will confer approximately 2,100 undergraduate and graduate degrees at its Spring 2008 Commencement ceremonies at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 11.

University President Luis M. Proenza will deliver commencement addresses at the Saturday afternoon and Sunday ceremonies. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree recipient Roy A. Church, president of Lorain County Community College, will deliver the Saturday morning address. Alumnus and former Board of Trustees Chairman Donald E. Demkee also will receive an honorary degree during the Saturday morning ceremony. Richard L. Hansford, alumnus and dean emeritus of student services, will receive an honorary degree Saturday afternoon.

Three student speakers will represent the Spring Class of 2008. Lucretia Foulk of Belle Center, a dance honors student in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, will speak at the Saturday morning ceremony. Erica Portis of Akron, a nursing honors student, will be the Saturday afternoon student speaker. Kyle Bohland of Freemont, a Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences honors student, will speak at the Sunday afternoon ceremony.

The degrees conferred will include 49 doctoral, 520 master's, 1,319 bachelor's and 228 associate. The Saturday morning ceremony will recognize candidates from the College of Fine and Applied Arts, College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, and Summit College. Saturday afternoon ceremony candidates will be from the College of Engineering, College of Education and College of Nursing. Sunday ceremony candidates will be from the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration and Wayne College. The university's School of Law will confer 137 Juris Doctor and six master's degrees in a separate exercise at 2 p.m. on May 18 in E.J. Thomas Hall.

"GradFest," a celebration for the graduates, their families and friends, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 10 and at 3:30 p.m. on May 11 on the E.J. Thomas Hall Terrace. In the event of inclement weather, festivities will move to the Goodrich Lobby in E.J. Thomas Hall. Sponsored by the university's Alumni Association, GradFest features music, free snacks and beverages and photo opportunities with UA's mascot, Zippy.

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