|
|
|
|
|
IUPUI TO HOLD ITS 30TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT SUNDAY;
MORE THAN 4,000 IU AND PURDUE DEGREES TO BE CONFERRED
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- More than 4,000 Indiana and Purdue university degrees will be conferred Sunday, May 9, during the 30th annual commencement ceremonies for Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
IUPUI Chancellor Gerald L. Bepko will preside at the 3 p.m. ceremony in the RCA Dome as IU President Myles Brand and Purdue President Steven C. Beering present 3,177 IU and 975 Purdue degrees. In addition to the undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees conferred by the universities, two honorary degrees will be presented.
Distinguished speakers also will address graduates at pre- and post-commencement ceremonies at the Indiana Convention Center that day.
Honorary degree recipients include:
Sam Jones, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Urban League, will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from IU. Jones became the first executive director of the Indianapolis Urban League in 1966 and has established the league as a proactive community force in education, health care, housing, crime, poverty and employment.
"In Indianapolis, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who does not know of Sam's work or has not benefitted in some way from his engagement with community issues or organizations," said Bepko.
Jones has served on the IUPUI Board of Advisors and was a member of the IU School of Nursing's Diversity and Enrichment Council.
Beverly L. Malone, president of the American Nurses Association since 1996, will receive an honorary doctor of science degree from IU. Her distinguished career has included working as a practitioner, educator, administrator, consultant and policy-maker. Malone has been a member of the board of advisors for the School of Nursing since 1993. During the last two years, the Kentucky native served as keynote speaker for the annual fund-raising event for Nursing 2000, an initiative providing scholarships for Central Indiana nursing students, and the Indiana State Nurses' Association convention in Bloomington. She also has led workshops for IU faculty.
In 1996, Malone was given the Anthony J. Janetti Award for extraordinary contributions to health care. Vice President Al Gore appointed Malone to the national Quality Forum Planning Committee.
Following the main ceremony, students will move to various rooms throughout the Indiana Convention Center for school ceremonies.
(John Althardt, 317-274-7711, jalthard@iupui.edu)