Kansas State University Commencement Ceremonies May 15, 21 and 22

4/30/2004

From: Cheryl May of Kansas State University, 785-532-6415 or 785-341-7158 (cell)

News Advisory:

Commencement ceremonies for Kansas State University's class of 2004 will be May 15, 21 and 22. This is the 137th class to graduate from K-State since the first class graduated in 1867.

More than 2,600 students are candidates for graduation. To be awarded will be approximately 2,150 bachelor's degrees, 320 master's degrees, 53 doctorates, 107 doctor of veterinary medicine degrees and 80 associate degrees. Multiple degrees are being earned by 70 students. About 90 students are earning their degrees through a K-State's distance education program.

K-State at Salina will kick off the ceremonies with commencement for the College of Technology and Aviation at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Kansas Highway Patrol Training Center Administration Building, 2025 E. Iron, Salina. Commencement speaker will be Pat Bosco, K-State associate vice president of institutional advancement and dean of student life.

Commencement ceremonies on the Manhattan campus will start with the awarding of graduate degrees in two ceremonies Friday, May 21. Commencement for the Graduate School will be at 1 p.m. in Bramlage Coliseum, followed by commencement for the College of Veterinary Medicine at 3:30 p.m. in McCain Auditorium. Manhattan resident Nelson D. Galle, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents, will represent the board at both ceremonies.

A virtual commencement ceremony for students who are earning their degrees through a K-State distance education program but who are unable to attend their on-campus ceremony is available at http://www.dce.ksu.edu/commencement/

Commencement speaker for the Graduate School will be William B. Neaves, president and chief executive officer of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Mo. Speaking at commencement for the College of Veterinary Medicine will be Bonnie Rush, the college's assistant dean for career development and a professor of clinical sciences.

All commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 22, also will be on the Manhattan campus. Ceremonies in Bramlage Coliseum start with the College of Arts and Sciences at 8:30 a.m.; College of Education, 11 a.m.; College of Business Administration, 12:30 p.m.; College of Agriculture, 2:15 p.m.; College of Human Ecology, 4:15 p.m.; and College of Engineering, 6:15 p.m. Commencement for the College of Architecture, Planning and Design will be at 10 a.m. in McCain Auditorium.

Commencement speakers include James Coffman, K-State provost, for the College of Agriculture and College of Engineering; Jonathan Kemper, vice chairman of Commerce Bancshares Inc. and chairman and chief executive officer of Commerce Bank, Kansas City, for the College of Architecture, Planning and Design; William Porter, a K-State alum who is a founder and the first chairman of the International Securities Exchange, for the College of Arts and Sciences; Bosco for the College of Business Administration; K-State alum R. Lee Harris, president of Cohen Real Estate Services Inc., for the College of Education; and Carol Kellett, dean of the College of Human Ecology, for her college.

K-State's highest alumni honor, the Alumni Medallion, will be awarded to two individuals in recognition of their lifetime of humanitarian service. Dan Upson, Manhattan, a K-State professor emeritus of anatomy and physiology who earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree, master's and doctorate from K-State, will receive his medallion at commencement for the College of Veterinary Medicine. Wayne Freeman, Gatlinburg, Tenn., an internationally recognized corn breeder who helped bring the sciences of plant genetics and crop management to developing countries, will receive his medallion at commencement for the College of Agriculture. Freeman earned his bachelor's degree from K-State.

The College of Architecture, Planning and Design will honor James Calcara, a K-State architecture alum from Kansas City, and Bernd Foerster, Manhattan, professor emeritus architecture and former dean of the college, with Distinguished Service Awards in recognition of their contributions to the university, humanity and their professions.

Also being honored at various K-State commencement ceremonies will be:

-- Four faculty members who earned K-State's Commerce Bank Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award: Kevin Gwinner, associate professor of marketing; Carl Riblett, professor of architectural engineering and construction science; Charles Sanders, assistant professor of history; and Susanne Siepl- Coates, professor of architecture.

-- Six faculty members and a graduate teaching assistant who earned K-State's Presidential Awards. Recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching are Keith Bates, a graduate teaching assistant in history; Steven Eckels, associate professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering and director of the Institute for Environmental Research; Jeffrey Smith, assistant professor of geography; and Bill Turnley, associate professor of management. Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising is Larry Williams. Recipient of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head is Frank Blecha, university distinguished professor and head of the department of anatomy and physiology.

In addition to commencement ceremonies, the commissioning of Army ROTC cadets will be at 10 a.m. May 21 outside the K-State Alumni Center near Memorial Stadium; the ceremony will be moved inside the center in case of inclement weather. The commissioning of Air Force ROTC cadets will be at 4 p.m., May 21, in the K- State Student Union's Little Theatre.