UAF to celebrate 83rd commencement

Submitted by Tori Tragis
Phone: (907) 474-6438
05/10/05

The University of Alaska Fairbanks expects to confer 1,054 degrees to 1,010 students during its 83rd commencement ceremony Sunday, May 15, 2005 at the Carlson Center. The university’s first commencement took place in 1923, when the sole graduate, John Sexton Shanly, received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

Preliminary figures show that 575 women and 435 men have applied for graduation; some students will receive more than one degree. The commencement ceremony includes graduates from summer 2004, fall 2004 and spring 2005.

The oldest graduate for 2005 is Firmin Murakami, 77, who is earning an associate degree in maintenance technology and a certificate in ground vehicle maintenance technology. There are two 18-year-olds tying for this year’s youngest graduates. Micah Peter and Jennifer Pine are earning associate degrees.

UAF expects to award 107 certificates, 223 associate degrees, 465 bachelor’s degrees and 234 master’s degrees on Sunday. Twenty-five 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 Steve Jones confer degrees. UA President Mark Hamilton will also participate in the ceremony and officially install Chancellor Jones.

The St. George Atakanakun Dancers will lead the processional. Graduates, faculty, honorary degree recipients and university officials will participate in the ceremony beginning at 1:20 p.m.

Author Richard Nelson from Sitka will deliver this year’s keynote address. Those receiving honorary degrees include Maj. General Jake Lestenkof, longtime journalist Stanton H. Patty, fisheries biologist Jim Rearden and Alaska Constitutional delegate George Sundborg. The student speaker is petroleum engineering graduate Phillip Tsunemori.

The procession’s grand marshal will be Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Charlotte Basham. Altogether, nine 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 Marine Science Ray Highsmith, Professor of Civil Engineering Bob Carlson, Dean and Professor of Marine Science Vera Alexander, Professor of Accounting and Information Systems Tom Robinson, Professor of Extension and Home Economics Sheryl Stanek, Professor of Chemistry Dick Stolzberg, Professor of Geophysics Keith Echelmeyer, Professor of Marine Science and Biochemistry Don Button and Professor of Petroleum Engineering David Ogbe.

Commencement rehearsal for graduates is Saturday, May 14, at 10:30 a.m. at the Carlson Center. There will also be a picnic at the UAF Wood Center from noon-2 p.m. that day for graduates and their family and friends to celebrate with Chancellor and Mrs. Jones. Graduation mass will take place in the Schaible Auditorium Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

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 Sunday. A complete list of commencement weekend activities is posted at http://www.uaf.edu/commencement/.

Note to editors: The expected number of degrees and students graduating reflects data compiled as of May 9, 2005.

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