May 31, 2007
Commencements slated June 8-10
Mark A. Emmert, UW president, will officiate at Commencement ceremonies in Seattle June 9, as well as Commencement ceremonies at UW Tacoma June 8 and UW Bothell June 10.
The ceremonies at Husky Stadium start at 2 p.m. Graduates begin to line up at noon. The academic procession begins at 1:30. The ceremony takes 2½ hours and could be shortened in the event of inclement weather.
The ceremony will be telecast live on UWTV and also is available on the Web through www.uwtv.org.
About 4,500 graduates are expected to attend, with an audience of about 38,000 family members and guests. Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements some time during the 2006-2007 academic year. An estimated 10,630 degrees will be awarded in Seattle — about 7,200 bachelor’s degrees, 2,400 master’s degrees, 550 doctorates and 480 professional degrees.
The Commencement speaker is Rep. Norm Dicks, congressman from Washington’s Sixth District.
Other recipients of special honors to be acknowledged at the Seattle commencement include the Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus, Distinguished Teaching Awards and the President’s Medals — presented to two graduating seniors with the most distinguished academic record.
Members of the Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the University’s 17 colleges and schools will participate in the Seattle ceremony. University officials also will be present at the Tacoma and Bothell ceremonies.
Many of the colleges and schools also have separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies. Complete information is available at www.uwgraduation.com.
UW Tacoma’s ceremonies are at 10 a.m. Friday, June 8, at the Tacoma Dome. Commencement speaker is author J.A. Jance. Patricia Spakes, chancellor of UW Tacoma, will present baccalaureate degrees; Suzanne Ortega, dean of the Graduate School, will present graduate degrees.
The ceremony also will spotlight the recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal for academic achievement. G. Kent Nelson, senior lecturer in the Milgard School of Business, will be recognized as the recipient of the UW Tacoma’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and Anthony D’Costa, professor in the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Program, will be honored with the Distinguished Research Award. UW Tacoma will award an estimated 900 bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
UW Bothell will hold ceremonies at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 10, in the Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the UW campus in Seattle. Interim Chancellor Steven Olswang, UW President Emmert, a student speaker and incoming Chancellor Kenyon Chan will present Commencement remarks and reflections. A Chancellor’s Medal and a President’s Medal will be awarded to outstanding students in the Class of 2007.
The Distinguished Teaching Award will be given to David Goldstein, lecturer in interdisciplinary arts and sciences. UW Bothell will award an estimated 680 bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Watch out for traffic near stadium June 9
The UW Transportation Office advises motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid the Husky Stadium on Saturday, June 9 for the UW graduation ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m.
With up to 40,000 people expected to attend this year’s ceremony, the area around Husky Stadium will be congested the entire afternoon with both pedestrians and vehicles arriving and departing from the stadium between noon and 6 p.m.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., Seattle Police will begin to set up traffic controls which will close Montlake Boulevard between NE Pacific Street and NE 45th Street to through traffic to help move cars parked in the stadium lots away from the area after the ceremony. Traffic approaching the closure will be detoured around the area. This restriction, which is similar to traffic routing for Husky football games, will be in effect until approximately 5:30 p.m.
Because of the high number of pedestrians in the area, drivers are asked to be patient, drive slowly through the area, and, if not attending the event, consider taking alternate routes to their destinations. For those people traveling south needing to access the UW Hospital, take 15th Ave. NE to NE Pacific Street. Montlake Boulevard will be closed from NE Pacific Street and NE 45th Street. Those traveling north may still travel across the Montlake bridge and turn left on NE Pacific St, but should expect delays. Consider the University Bridge or the Ship Canal (I-5) bridge instead.
More transportation information for people attending the ceremony can be found online at: http://www.uwgraduation.com. Click under general information and select “parking.”
