RECORD NUMBER OF DEGREES TO BE AWARDED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 1996

Fairbanks, Alaska - The University of Alaska Fairbanks is expecting its largest graduating class ever with more than 1,000 degrees to be awarded during ceremonies Sunday, May 12. UAF is holding its 74th Commencement, which coincides with Mother's Day this year, and will confer master's, bachelor's and associate degrees and certificates. A record number of doctorates will also be awarded, with 29 students expecting to receive a dark blue hood with velvet trim indicating that they've earned a Ph.D.

Just prior to the commencement ceremony, UAF will celebrate the completion of Lathrop Hall renovations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tours of the recently renovated residence hall, part of a multi-million dollar deferred maintenance construction package signed last year by Gov. Tony Knowles, will be conducted through the four-story, 1960s-era building.

The procession of graduates, faculty, retiring faculty, honorary degree recipients and university officials starts at 1:10 p.m. and will be led by the Fairbanks Native Association Potlatch Dancers. The ceremony itself, which is dedicated this year to the memory of UAF's first chancellor Howard Cutler, who died last fall, begins at 1:30 p.m. in the Patty Center gymnasium on the UAF main campus. UAF branch campuses in Nome, Kotzebue, Bethel, Tok and Dillingham hold separate commencement ceremonies. Among the graduates from the Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue are Rachel Sherman, UAF's first recipient of a Native Language Education degree. The Northwest Campus in Nome will graduate Inupiaq Eskimo Berda Willson and her daughter Melissa Boeckmann, each will receive a rural development degree.

Chancellor Joan Wadlow will preside over ceremonies in Fairbanks. University of Alaska President Jerome Komisar will also be attending along with UA Board of Regents members Virginia Breeze, Sharon Gagnon, Mary Jane Fate, Mike Kelly and Joe Thomas.

This year's Commencement speaker is women's history scholar Jill Ker Conway, author of "The Road from Coorain" and "True North." The Harvard-graduated Conway was born in Australia and was the first woman president of Smith College in Massachusetts. She will receive an honorary doctor of letters degree from UAF.

Also receiving honorary doctorates from UAF on Sunday are former Alaska State Sen. Jay Kerttula, Native elder Howard Luke and businessman Joseph E. Usibelli.

The student speaker is Tonya Brown, recipient of this year's Gray Tilly Memorial Award, given to the graduating senior whose education was interrupted because of family responsibilities.

Retiring faculty who will receive the rank of emeritus from UAF this spring are Dean of the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management James Drew, Associate Professor of Forestry Extension Anthony Gasbarro, Professor of Zoology R. Dale Guthrie, Professor of Library Science David Hales, Professor of English Janis Lull, Associate Professor of Geophysics Hans Pulpan, Professor of Extension Education Jerry Purser, Associate Professor of Geophysics and Electrical Engineering William Sackinger, Professor of Marine Science and Chemistry David Shaw, Professor of Geophysics David Stone and Professor of Geophysics Wilford Weeks. The rank of emeritus is generally given to those who have served the university with distinction in teaching, research or public service, and symbolizes the university's desire to maintain an identification with those retiring.

Commencement rehearsal for graduates is 10 a.m. Saturday at Patty Center. On Sunday, a 10 a.m. Baccalaureate Interfaith Service will be held in Schaible Auditorium, at 10:30 a.m. Graduation Sunday Mass will be conducted in the lounge of the Lola Tilly Commons.

A free, continental breakfast for graduates and their families, sponsored by the Fairbanks chapter of the UAF Alumni Association, begins at 11 a.m. in the Wood Center Ballroom. The Alumni Association will also hold a reception at the Lola Tilly Commons immediately following commencement ceremonies.

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Note to Editors: A media preview of Lathrop Hall renovations has been scheduled for Friday, May 10, 1 p.m. UAF Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services Michael Rice will conduct a brief tour through the building and be available for media questions.

CONTACT: UAF Public Information Officer Debra Damron, (907) 474-7581.

DPD/5-6-96/96-76