FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fairbanks, Alaska - The University of Alaska Fairbanks will confer 969 degrees during the institution's 77th Commencement on Sunday, May 9. Preliminary figures show that 412 men and 557 women have applied for graduation. The oldest graduate is Mary Carie, a 52-year resident of Fairbanks who will be 75 in November. This is Carie's third UAF degree. She received an associate degree in 1993, a bachelor's degree in business technology in 1994 and on Sunday will receive a bachelor's degree in history.

The youngest graduate is 17-year-old Nathan Schlomann, who will receive a general program associate of arts degree. And in the category of most persistent, 40 years after they first started at UAF, a former legislator and a current construction company vice-president will receive their business degrees from UAF.

Former Alaska legislator Don Smith, who took his first class from UAF in the spring of 1958, is publisher of the Alaska Digest and the Alaska Native Directory. Although he spent four years studying at UAF, he left without taking two required courses. He petitioned one class, a sophomore speech class, and on May 3 finished the other, a natural history class. Smith expects to get an A in the class, and if his grades check out, he'll be awarded a UAF bachelor of business administration degree.

Duane Heverling began at UAF in the fall of 1957, and like Smith, completed all but a few minor requirements necessary to obtain his bachelor's degree. Heverling is now with F&W Construction in Anchorage and plans to attend commencement ceremonies on the Fairbanks campus this Sunday. Smith will attend UAA's graduation ceremony.

With just a few days before the event, which coincides with Mother's Day, students are taking final exams and preparing to move out of residence halls for the summer. Once grades from exams are submitted, they must be verified before graduates are approved to receive their degrees. Confirmation of degrees will be made when final grades are posted, which won't take place until next week. The largest number of degree recipients are the 544 students who are expected to receive bachelor's degrees.

UAF expects to award 83 certificates, 187 associate degrees and 128 master's degrees. Twenty-seven students are expected to receive doctoral degrees.

Nearly 60 Native dancers with the Stevens Village Traditional Dance Group will lead the procession of graduates, faculty, retiring faculty, honorary degree recipients and university officials starting at 1:10 p.m. The Parade Marshal will be retiring Professor of Zoology Gerald Shields. Altogether, 16 retiring faculty, including Shields, will be granted emeritus status on Sunday, a title given to those who have served with distinction in teaching, research or public service.

The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Patty Center, led by Chancellor Joan Wadlow, who will retire this year with chancellor emerita status. Participating in his first UAF commencement is UA President Mark Hamilton, who along with Wadlow, UAF Provost Paul Reichardt and UA Regent Mary Jane Fate, will confer degrees.

This year's commencement keynote address will be given by prominent national education leader Lois DeFleur, president of the State University of New York at Binghamton. This year's student speaker will be James Hayes, who will receive his bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in sociology. Hayes has served as a senator for the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks student government and has also interned with U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. Hayes hopes to follow in the political footsteps of his father, Jim, who is also a UAF alumnus and who currently serves as mayor of the city of Fairbanks.

In addition to the numerous certificates and degrees that will be awarded Sunday, UAF will confer honorary degrees on Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, pioneer Alaskan Frank Chapados, Native elder Katherine Peter and speaker Lois DeFleur.

During the ceremony, a doctoral degree will be awarded posthumously to Jim Cook, a Northern Studies student who passed away May 19, 1998. The doctoral hood will be accepted by his wife, Cleta, and daughter, Janella, who is also a UAF student.

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

The Fairbanks chapter of the UAF Alumni Association will host an open house for returning alumni from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Constitution Hall on Sunday, and will host a reception for graduates and their families at the Lola Tilly Commons immediately following commencement ceremonies.

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