June 4, 2009
Commencement weekend June 12-14 at UW’s three campuses
Mark A. Emmert, UW president, will officiate at Commencement ceremonies in Seattle on June 13, as well as Commencement ceremonies at UW Tacoma June 12 and UW Bothell June 14.
The June 13 ceremonies at Husky Stadium start at 2 p.m. Graduates begin to line up at noon. The academic procession begins at 1:30. The ceremony takes two and a half hours, and could be shortened in the event of inclement weather.
The ceremony will be telecast live on UWTV from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on channel 27 throughout the Puget Sound region and also online; for more information, see www.uwtv.org.
About 4,100 graduates are expected to attend, with an audience of about 39,000 family members and guests. Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements some time during the 2008-2009 academic year. An estimated 10,895 degrees will be awarded in Seattle — 7,200 bachelor’s degrees, 2,550 master’s degrees, 630 doctorates and 515 professional degrees.
The Commencement speaker is U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. He will be awarded an honorary doctorate at the ceremony. Virginia Beavert, a Yakama tribal elder who has played a seminal role in the preservation and documentation of the Sahaptin language and its legends, also will receive an honorary degree (See our story here.)
Other recipients of special honors to be acknowledged at the Seattle commencement include: the Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus, Distinguished Teaching Award winners and the President’s Medalists. President’s medals are presented to the two graduating seniors (a four-year student and a transfer student) with the most distinguished academic records.
Members of the Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the University’s 17 colleges and schools will participate in the Seattle ceremony. University officials also will be present at the Tacoma and Bothell ceremonies.
Many of the colleges and schools also have separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies. Complete information is available at www.uwgraduation.com.
UW Tacoma’s ceremonies are at 10 a.m. Friday, June 12 at the Tacoma Dome. Commencement speaker is Gov. Christine Gregoire. Patricia Spakes, chancellor of UW Tacoma, will present baccalaureate degrees; Jerry Baldasty, dean of the Graduate School, will present graduate degrees. The ceremony also will spotlight the recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal for academic achievement. Janice Laakso, associate professor of social work, will be recognized as the recipient of the UW Tacoma’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and Claudia Gorbman, professor, interdisciplinary arts and sciences, will be honored with the Distinguished Research Award. UW Tacoma will award an estimated 750 bachelor’s degrees and 170 master’s degrees. Two members of UW Tacoma’s first freshman class and the first three graduates of the UW Tacoma computer engineering program will receive bachelor’s degrees.
UW Bothell will hold ceremonies at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14 in the Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Chancellor Kenyon Chan, UW President Emmert, and a student speaker will present remarks and reflections. A Chancellor’s Medal and a President’s Medal will be awarded to outstanding students in the Class of 2009. The Commencement speaker is U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee.
The Distinguished Teaching Award will be given to Peter Littig, assistant professor in the Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences Program. UW Bothell will award an estimated 610 bachelor’s degrees, 110 master’s degrees and also will recognize students receiving their Washington State teaching certificates.
