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WMU to award 1,400 degrees at two ceremonies

June 16, 2005

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University will grant more than 1,400 degrees during two summer commencement ceremonies Saturday, June 25, in Miller Auditorium.

WMU President Judith I. Bailey will preside over the ceremonies, during which a total of 1,487 degrees will be awarded: 1,124 at the bachelor's level, 329 at the master's level, one at the specialist level and 33 at the doctoral level.

The first ceremony will be at 9 a.m. for graduates of the College of Education, the College of Fine Arts, Extended University Programs, and the Haworth College of Business. The second ceremony will be at noon for graduates of the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Health and Human Services.

The ceremonies are for students who will conclude their studies on June 22 at the end of the Summer I Session and on Aug. 12 at the end of the Summer II Session. WMU also holds commencement exercises in December and April.

Karl Schrock will be the organist for the ceremonies. Music will be provided by the Western Brass Ensemble, conducted by Steve Wolfinbarger. The national anthem and the alma mater will be sung by WMU's chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia professional music fraternity, conducted by Brendan Closz. Graduates will be welcomed as new alumni of the University by Anitta Orr, president of the WMU Alumni Association.

Tickets are required for guests to attend the commencement ceremonies, and each participating student is eligible to receive up to six guest tickets. Should there be extra tickets, participating students may request up to two more on a first-come, first-served basis from the Miller Auditorium box office beginning 8 a.m. Friday, June 24.

Guests without tickets may view the commencement ceremonies live on a large-screen television in Room 3512 Knauss Hall.

The ceremonies also may be seen live online at <www.wmich.edu/commencement> as well as television on Channel 7 of EduCABLE, the University's cable television system, and throughout the Kalamazoo area on one of the local Community Access Cable channels (19-22) on the Charter Communication cable system. Those needing help setting up their computers for video streaming may contact WMU's Office of Information Technology by calling (269) 387-4357 or sending e-mail to <helpdesk@wmich.edu>.

The University will be providing professional recordings of both ceremonies on VHS videotapes as well as DVDs. The recordings will cost $25 each, plus shipping and formatting fees if any, and may be ordered online or by calling (269) 387-0459.

In addition, a professional photographer will be taking pictures of each graduating student. Color proofs will be sent to each student, but purchase of prints is optional.

For more information about the June 25 graduation exercises or how to obtain tickets, recordings or student photos, visit <www.wmich.edu/commencement>.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
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Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
269 387-8400
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