More Than 900 Degrees at Carlson Center Commencement

Submitted by Kasey Gillam
Phone: (907) 474-7581
05/08/03

Fairbanks, Alaska The University of Alaska Fairbanks expects to confer 936 degrees during its 81st commencement on Sunday, May 11, 2003 at the Carlson Center. Preliminary figures show that 511 women and 372 men have applied for graduation, and some will receive more than one degree. The oldest graduate of 2003 is Esther M. Combs, 65, earning a master’s degree in rural development. Three students are listed as graduating at the age of 18. Cassiah Depew is earning a certificate in culinary arts and Spencer Audie is earning a certificate in airframe and power plant. Britt Arnesen, now 19, graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in biology. The commencement ceremony includes graduates from summer 2002, fall 2002 and spring 2003.

This will be UAF’s third commencement at the Carlson Center in downtown Fairbanks after nearly 40 years in the Patty Center gymnasium on the UAF campus. UAF’s first graduation was in 1923, where the sole graduate, John Sexton Shanly, received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

UAF expects to award 75 certificates, 218 associate degrees, 436 bachelor’s degrees and 171 master’s degrees on Sunday. Thirty-six students are expected to receive doctoral degrees in fields ranging from atmospheric sciences to oceanography and molecular biology. Several members of the University of Alaska Board of Regents will help UAF Chancellor Marshall Lind confer degrees. UA President Mark Hamilton will also participate in the ceremony.

The Suurimmaanitchuat Dance Group of Barrow will lead the processional. Graduates, faculty, retiring faculty, honorary degree recipients and university officials will start the ceremony at 1:20 p.m. Tlingit elder and Native leader Walter A. Soboleff Sr. will deliver this year’s keynote address. Those receiving honorary degrees include long-time Fairbanksan Helen Atkinson, Ronald F. Cosgrave, Johannes Erritzoe and Kenneth " Utuayak" Toovak. The student speaker is political science major Jeremy Dunn Johnson.

The procession’s grand marshal will be retiring Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics Ron Gatterdam, who will also be granted emeritus status. Altogether, eight retiring faculty will be granted emeritus status on Sunday, a title given to those who have served the university with distinction in teaching, research and public service for at least 10 years.

Those receiving emeritus status are Professor of Geophysics Nirendra N. Biswas, Professor of Justice Gary Copus, Professor of Fisheries John P. Doyle, Professor of Physics and Dean of the Graduate School Joseph R. Kan, former Dean of Student Services and Associate Professor of Agricultural Education Carla Kirts, Professor of Communication and former Dean of the College of Liberal Arts John Leipzig and Professor of Sociology Nagabhushana M.S. Rao.

Commencement rehearsal for graduates is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Carlson Center. There will also be a graduate picnic at the UAF Student Recreation Center from noon-2 p.m., providing an opportunity for graduates and their family and friends to celebrate with Chancellor Lind. On Sunday a 10:30 a.m. Mass will take place in the Schaible Auditorium.

Graduates and alumni are welcome to attend a reception hosted by the UAF Alumni Association in the Carlson Center’s Pioneer Room immediately following the ceremony on Sunday. A complete list of commencement weekend activities is posted at http://www.uaf.edu/commencement.

The UAF commencement ceremony will be videotaped and broadcast on Alaska 3 UATV on Wednesday, May 14, from 4-6 p.m. and Friday, May 16, from 6-8 p.m. The channel is available on local cable stations and by direct satellite throughout Alaska, including Barrow, Bethel, Craig, Dillingham, Eielson AFB, Fairbanks, Ft. Wainwright, Haines, Hoonah, Juneau, Petersburg, Unalaska and Valdez. Viewers should check with their local cable companies to ensure they carry the UATV signal. If not, many companies will do so at viewers’ request.

CONTACT: Commencement Coordinator Tori Tragis at (907) 474-6438 or UAF Public Information Officer Carla Browning at (907) 474-7778.