West Virginia University’s May 2014 Commencement might get confused with Homecoming as more than half of the speakers – led by a best-selling author, a well-known actor and a top financier – are returning to their alma mater to encourage and celebrate a new class of Mountaineers.
The University will host a series of individual, personalized ceremonies for each school and college at a variety of venues on the Evansdale Campus and around Morgantown, including the WVU Coliseum, Creative Arts Center and Morgantown Event Center from May 9-11.
This year’s Commencement speakers are highlighted by Stephen P. Coonts, a U.S. Navy veteran whose novel “Flight of the Intruder” spent 28 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and Chris Sarandon, an actor best known for playing Prince Humperdinck in Rob Reiner’s film “The Princess Bride.”
Students and their families are encouraged to visit the Commencement website http://graduation.wvu.edu/commencement for event updates, as well as information about photography, lodging and traditions.
If you’re graduating, help tell your story through the #wvugrad hashtag.
Friday, May 9:
School of Public Health, 4 p.m., Morgantown Event Center
Speaker: Carolyn Woodhouse, senior research scientist of the Center for Health Equity and Quality Research at the University of Florida College of Medicine
Saturday, May 10:
College of Education and Human Services, 9 a.m., Coliseum
Speaker: Gayle Manchin, president of the West Virginia State Board of Education, WVU graduate
School of Dentistry, 9 a.m., Morgantown Event Center
Speaker: David Whiston, past president of the American Dental Association, WVU gradaute
Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, 9:30 a.m., Creative Arts Center
Speaker: Amy Webb, founder and CEO of Webbmedia Group
School of Nursing, 1 p.m., Morgantown Event Center
Speaker: Nancy Atkins, Commissioner Nancy V. Atkins, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, Bureau for Medical Services West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, 1 p.m., Coliseum
Speaker: Dianne D. Anderson, executive director of Great Lakes Energy Institute at Case Western Reserve University, WVU graduate
College of Law, 1:30 p.m., Creative Arts Center
Speaker: Elaine Waterhouse Wilson, 2014 WVU Law Professor of the Year
School of Pharmacy, 5 p.m., Morgantown Event Center
Speaker: Patricia C. Johnston, president and owner of the Colony Drug and Wellness Center, WVU graduate
College of Creative Arts, 5:30 p.m., Creative Arts Center
Speaker: Chris Sarandon, Actor best known for playing Prince Humperdinck in “The Princess Bride,” College of Creative Arts Class of 1964
College of Business and Economics, 6 p.m., Coliseum
Speaker: Bill Sheedy, executive vice president of Visa, WVU graduate
Sunday, May 11:
School of Medicine: M.D. and Ph.D., 9 a.m., Morgantown Event Center
Speaker: William A. Neal, School of Medicine Class of 1966
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, 9:30 a.m., Coliseum
Speaker: Keith Bowers, founder and president of Biohabitats, WVU graduate
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences: Master’s and Ph.D., 10 a.m., Creative Arts Center
Speaker: Earl Scime, Eberly Distinguished Professor of Physics and interim associate vice president for Research at WVU
School of Medicine: Professional Programs, 2 p.m., Morgantown Event Center
Speaker: Heather Abbott, Boston Marathon bombing survivor
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and University College: Bachelor’s, 2 p.m., Coliseum
Speaker: Stephen Coonts, 17-time New York Times best-selling author, WVU graduate
College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, 2:30 p.m., Creative Arts Center
Speaker: Gale Catlett, former WVU men’s basketball coach, WVU graduate
The University reminds graduates that participation in Commencement exercises does not guarantee the completion of a WVU degree. Questions regarding eligibility to participate should be directed to the student’s school or college.
Diplomas will be mailed after all grades are finalized and certified by WVU’s Office of the University Registrar.
If you have questions about the ceremonies, please contact WVU’s Office of University Events at graduation@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-7132. Updates are also available at http://graduation.wvu.edu, on the WVU Graduation Facebook page and by following #wvugrad on Twitter.
-WVU-
ld/04/14/14
CONTACT: Liz Dickinson, Office of University Events
304.293.7132, graduation@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.