UAF CONFERS 973 DEGREES DURING COMMENCEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2000

Fairbanks, Alaska - The University of Alaska Fairbanks will confer 973 degrees during the institution's 78th Commencement on Sunday, May 7. Preliminary figures show that 527 women and 382 men have applied for graduation.

The oldest graduate is Kenneth Austin, 65, who completed his master's degree in anthropology last summer. The youngest graduate is David Benbennick, 19, who is completing a bachelor's degree in mathematics this semester. This year's commencement ceremony includes graduates from summer 1999, fall 1999 and spring 2000.

With just a few days before the event, 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.

UAF expects to award 118 certificates, 182 associate degrees, 475 bachelor's degrees and 178 master's degrees. Twenty students are expected to receive doctoral degrees in fields ranging from environmental chemistry to cooperative education and development.

Singers and dancers from the Walking Hawk intertribal group will lead the procession of graduates, faculty, retiring faculty, honorary degree recipients and university officials starting at 12:10 p.m. The procession's Grand Marshal will be retiring Professor of Art Kes Woodward. Altogether, 11 retiring faculty, including Woodward, will be granted emeritus status on Sunday, a title given to those who have served with the university distinction in teaching, research or public service for at least 10 years.

Also receiving emeritus status are art history and humanities associate professor Barbara Alexander, plant ecology professor John Bryant, education professor Perry Gilmore, sociology professor Janice Reynolds, English professor Peggy Shumaker, physics professor Knut Stamnes, anthropology and linguistics professor David Smith, and petroleum engineering professor Vidyadhar A. Kamath. Linguistics professor Michael Krauss, who also directs the Alaska Native Language Center, and Ruth Lister, former head of UAF's Tanana Valley Campus, will receive director emeritus status.

The ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Patty Center and will be led for the first time by UAF Chancellor Marshall Lind. UA Regents Chancy Croft, Mary Jane Fate, Brian Rogers and Joe Thomas will join Lind and UAF Provost Paul Reichardt in conferring degrees. UA Statewide Chief of Staff Jim Johnsen will also assist with the ceremony.

This year's commencement keynote address will be given by nationally known educator James Banks, a leader in curriculum development of multicultural education. The student speaker will be Heidi Drygas, who will receive her bachelor's degree in history with a minor in law and society.

Drygas's voice is a familiar one to students who tune in to KSUA, the university's student-operated radio station. When she wasn't earning grades that placed her on the chancellor's and dean's lists, Drygas worked as a resident assistant for the Department of Residence Life, intern for Sen. Ted Stevens and volunteer for the Fairbanks Food Bank. Heidi's brother, Erik, will receive his bachelor's degree in elementary education during the ceremony.

In addition to numerous certificates and degrees that will be awarded Sunday, UAF will confer honorary degrees on former state legislator Clem Tillion, internationally known ethnographer John Bockstoce, Arctic geologist David Hopkins, Alaskan banker Edward Rasmuson and speaker Banks.

Commencement rehearsal for graduates is 10 a.m. Saturday at the Patty Center. On Sunday, a 10 a.m. Baccalaureate Interfaith Service sponsored by United Campus Ministry will be held in the Schaible Auditorium. A 9:30 a.m. Graduation Sunday Mass will take place in the lounge of the Lola Tilly Commons.

The UAF Alumni Association will host an open house for returning alumni from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in Constitution Hall before commencement. A reception for graduates and their families, hosted by the Fairbanks chapter of UAFAA, will be held at the Lola Tilly Commons immediately following the ceremonies.

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CONTACT: Tiffany Noisworthy, UAF University Relations, at (907) 474-6438.

JCS/5-3-00/00-074