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News Release

Last modified: Wednesday, December 5, 2007

IU Bloomington to graduate 1,701 students in winter commencement Dec. 15

John T. Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, will deliver commencement address

EDITORS: A biography and photograph of commencement speaker John T. Chambers can be found at: https://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/6942.html.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 5, 2007

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Bloomington will celebrate its 178th Commencement on Dec. 15 (Saturday) at 10 a.m. in Assembly Hall. The procession of graduates will begin at 9:15 a.m. The commencement address will be given by John T. Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems. Chambers is a highly honored businessman, philanthropist and humanitarian, as well as an international leader in information technology.

In his first commencement since becoming IU's president last July, Michael A. McRobbie will preside over the ceremony in which a total of 1,701 students are eligible to participate. This figure includes undergraduates and also graduate students whose degrees were awarded during September and October, as well as those who are candidates for November and December degrees.

"Graduation is an occasion to recognize the achievements of our newest graduates," said McRobbie. "We honor them at this ceremony and wish them success in the future. But commencement day doesn't belong only to them. It also celebrates the family and friends who have supported our graduates along the way. None of us reaches our highest goals without those who love, encourage and support us."

Chambers, a graduate of Indiana University, also will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree, which will be conferred by McRobbie.

Chambers graduated from IU's Kelley School of Business with a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and management in 1975. He had previously earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in business in 1971 and a law degree in 1974 from West Virginia University. Chambers worked for IBM and Wang Laboratories before he joined Cisco Systems in 1991. Under his leadership, Cisco's revenue has grown from $1.2 billion to nearly $35 billion annually. Among the vast number of company or industry specific awards, he has personally been recognized for his business leadership with awards that include "The Most Influential Person in Communications" (Telecom Magazine, 2000), "Best CEO in America" (Institutional Investor Magazine, 2003, 2007), and "Man of the Year" (San Jose Magazine, 2005).

After granting the honorary degree to Chambers, McRobbie will deliver a charge to the graduating class. He will then confer degrees, assisted by Karen Hanson, provost and executive vice president for the IU Bloomington campus, and deans of the individual schools.

The Rev. Linda C. Johnson, Episcopal chaplain to IU, will offer the invocation for the commencement. Stephen L. Ferguson, president of the Trustees of Indiana University, will represent the university during the induction of its newest graduates. MaryEllen Kiley Bishop, chair of the Indiana Alumni Association, will represent the alumni, and Benjamin C. Blotsky, a representative of the IU Student Alumni Association, will represent the class.

The IU Commencement Ensemble, conducted by Matthew Brunner, doctoral candidate in the IU Jacobs School of Music, will provide processional and recessional accompaniment. Jacobs School of Music Dean Gwyn Richards will lead the graduates and audience in singing The Star-Spangled Banner and Hail to Old IU.

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