WVU Parkersburg May Commencement 2006

WVU Parkersburg to award record number of baccalaureate degrees Saturday, May 13th, at 35th annual Commencement.

CONTACT: Cecelia Malhotra, registrar, 304-424-8220.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg will award a record number of baccalaureate degrees Saturday (May 13) at its 35th annual Commencement.

The Class of 2006 includes approximately 247 WVU Parkersburg and 29 WVU candidates for graduation.

WVU Parkersburg expects to award 62 baccalaureate degrees, the most the Parkersburg campus has conferred at Commencement since the institution began offering bachelor's degrees in 1991, according to Leslie Sims, associate registrar. In addition, approximately 213 Associate degrees and Certificates are to be conferred as well as 29 WVU bachelor's degrees.

Commencement will begin at 2 p.m. in the College Activities Center.

WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage will preside over the ceremony. Serving as Commencement speaker will be Emily Lamb, WVU Parkersburg professor of English and reading. She is retiring after 19 years of teaching at the college's Jackson County Center. Faculty marshals will be Karen Hanner, instructor of chemistry, and Tom Lemon, instructor of industrial maintenance. Ron Atkinson, professor of social sciences, will serve as grand marshal.

Bringing greetings to the graduates will be Joe Campbell, chair of the WVU Parkersburg Board of Advisors and member of the WVU Board of Governors; Chris Martin, WVU vice president for institutional advancement, and Greg Smith, member, WV Council for Community and Technical College Education. Christina Glancy, vice president of student government, will deliver greetings from the student body.

Assisting President Gnage in the conferring of degrees and honors will be Joseph Badgley, executive dean of academic affairs; Dotty Muir, dean of students, and Cindy Kelley, chair of the Education Division.

On Friday, May 12, a pinning ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. for the college's nursing candidates for graduation in the College Activities Center.

A reception for the graduates and their families will follow both ceremonies in the cafeteria concourse.

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
Office: 304-424-8203
Fax: 304-424-8315